Serum IgE levels in patients with liver disease.

Serum IgE level was determined in patients with chronic and acute liver diseases. In the latter it was correlated with that of other immunoglobulin classes and with disease activity. IgE level was found to be within normal range in patients with chronic active hepatitis and in those with non-alcoholic cirrhosis, as well as in asymptomatic HBsAg carriers. In contrast, the prevalence of patients with high serum IgE level was significantly increased during the active stage of both type A an type B hepatitis. Serum concentration of IgE decreased to normal following complete recovery from the disease. The increase in serum IgE level during type A hepatitis was accompanied by a very marked increase in IgM level while that of IgG remained unchanged. The changes in the pattern of serum immunoglobulins during acute hepatitis might be attributed to selective depletion of suppressor T-cells.