Biliary and serum immunoglobulin alterations in patients of cholelithiasis.

IgG, IgA and IgM were estimated in serum, common bile duct bile and gall bladder bile by single radial immunodiffusion technique in 30 patients of cholelithiasis, which included 22 patients of cholelithiasis with non functioning gall bladder (sub group A) and 8 patients of cholelithiasis with functioning gall bladder (sub group B). 30 age and sex matched controls were also included in the study. Serum IgG, IgA and IgM were significantly raised in patients of cholelithiasis as compared to controls. However, in gall bladder bile although IgA and IgM were significantly lower (more so in sub group A) than that of control group (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 respectively but there was no change in IgG. While in common bile duct bile, rise in all the three immunoglobulins was statistically insignificant when compared to controls.