Characteristics of the Immune Status in Patients With Decompensation of Liver Cirrhosis

Abstract

Liver cirrhosis continues to be an acute problem of modern medicine due to the high rates of its prevalence and mortality. The high mortality rate is caused by the development of the number of life–threatening complications in decompensated forms of liver cirrhosis – hepatorenal syndrome, infections and varicose bleeding. Hepatorenal syndrome and infections are the result of immunological shifts occurring during decompensation of liver cirrhosis. Currently available literature data do not allow us to create a complete picture of the functional state of various links of adaptive immunity with decompensated liver cirrhosis. The aim of the research was to study the characteristic features of adaptive immunity in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. Material and methods. The prospective cohort study included 136 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, who received inpatient treatment in the hepatological department of the multidisciplinary hospital. The cohort of examined patients was divided into two groups, one of which included patients with liver cirrhosis of viral origin (n = 78), the other – patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (n = 58). In addition to the generally accepted standard methods, the patient examination program included immunological tests: identification of T- and B-lymphocytes, immunoregulatory and activated subpopulations of T-lymphocytes by the method of immunophenotyping peripheral blood mononuclear cells using monoclonal antibodies. The serum levels of immunoglobulins IgM, IgG, IgA, circulating immune complexes were determined by immunoturbidimetric method. Results. The study of indicators of the humoral link of adaptive immunity revealed an increase in the number of B cells, an increase in IgM, IgG, IgA and circulating immune complexes in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. The cellular link of adaptive immunity was characterized by an increase in the relative content of T helper cells, activated T cells against the background of a decrease in the number of immature T cells and T regulatory cells. Conclusions. The distinctive features of adaptive immunity in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis are simultaneous activation of both humoral and cellular components, which, apparently, supports the systemic inflammatory process and the associated progressive liver fibrosis.