Abstract

MEDINA-SANTANDER, Carlos Ernesto; MORALES-GOMEZ, Margarita  and  OLIVARES-ROMERO, Gilberto José. Niveles séricos de Inmunoglobulina E en pacientes con esteatosis hepática asociada o no al consumo de alcohol.. Invest. clín [online]. 2001, vol.42, n.4, pp.235-240. ISSN 0535-5133.

It has been reported that total Immunoglobulin E levels (IgE) are elevated in patients with liver damage (fatty liver), associated with alcohol consumption, but the mechanism responsible for this increase is not completely understood. The objective of this investigation was to determine serum concentrations of IgE in patients whit fatty liver, associated or not with alcohol consumption. During the period of February - August 2000, a total of 756 patients attended the outpatient Gastroenterology Service of the University Central Hospital "Antonio María Pineda" in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. Of these, 150 were diagnosed as suffering from fatty liver, but only 63 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The IgE was determined by Photoemission Immunometric Enzyme Immunoassay (High Resolution Amplifed Chemoluminescence). IgE serum levels were higher in patients that consumed alcohol (low risk consumer, mean 586,42 ± 779,74 UI/mL; consumer at risk, mean 329,31 ± 358,13 UI/mL) in comparison with abstemious (mean 77,51 ± 56,95 UI/mL) (p < 0,05). There was no relationship between IgE levels and the severity of hepatic steatosis. IgE may be considered a biochemical marker for fatty liver associated with alcohol consumption.

Keywords : Fatty liver; Immunoglobulin E; alcohol..