Characteristics of serum IgA and liver IgA deposits in XXXX .

@entity1 @entity5727 @entity5881 @entity167 @entity988 @entity409 @entity99
@entity1 with @entity5881 frequently reveal an increase in IgA serum concentration and IgA deposits in a continuous pattern along hepatic sinusoids. We investigated whether the hepatic IgA deposits are a passive reflection of changes in concentration or composition of IgA in the circulation, or represent a distinct effect of @entity167 on the liver. Forty-one @entity1 with @entity5881 (daily @entity167 intake at least 50 gm for more than five consecutive years) were compared with 41 @entity1 with @entity409 . @entity1 in both groups were matched for serum IgA and histopathological changes in the liver biopsy. IgA deposits in the liver were found in 78% of the @entity988 @entity1 and in 12% of the nonalcoholic @entity1 . The presence of deposits was not related to histopathological changes in the liver or to the serum IgA concentration. In serum IgA subclass distribution, @entity988 @entity1 differed from nonalcoholic @entity1 by a slight but significant shift to IgA2; in contrast, the hepatic IgA deposits in @entity988 @entity1 were almost of the @entity5727 subclass. Serum secretory component (which is an equivalent of serum secretory IgA) was elevated in both @entity988 and nonalcoholic @entity1 ; @entity1 with a liver biopsy revealing @entity99 showed the highest level. In contrast, the hepatic deposits did not contain secretory component. We conclude that the continuous deposits of IgA along liver sinusoids are not a passive reflection of changes in concentration or composition of circulating IgA, but may represent a distinct effect of @entity167 on the liver related to the role of this organ in IgA metabolism.
