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I Barrison

Publications and source records attributed to I Barrison.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Antinuclear autoantibodies in chronic liver diseases.

Circulating autoantibodies are often observed in liver disorders, especially in those thought to have an autoimmune etiology-such as primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and chronic active hepatitis (CAH). The pathophysiologic role of these antibodies, however, remains obscure. The present study was performed to evaluate the incidence and diagnostic value of different antinuclear antibodies in chronic liver diseases, and to assess whether the antibodies are a non-specific expression of the hypergammaglobulinemia observed in these disorders. We measured six different antinuclear and closely related antibodies (against ssDNA, dsDNA, Poly (I), Poly (dT), RNA and cardiolipin) and their IgG, IgA and IgM isotypes in the sera of 86 patients with autoimmune, as well as other chronic liver diseases--namely, PBC, CAH, alcoholic (AC) and cryptogenic cirrhosis (CC). Antibodies against all the various nuclear antigens were detected in all diseases studied. The incidence ranged from 4% (anti-cardiolipin-IgG in CC) to 74% (anti-Poly (dT)-IgM in PBC). Although the antibody profiles differed among the various disease entities, they were not distinct enough to be of any clinical diagnostic value. In alcoholic cirrhosis antibody levels correlated with corresponding immunoglobulin isotype levels (notably IgA), suggesting a non-specific expression of hypergammaglobulinemia. In the other liver diseases such a correlation was lacking, favoring the existence of an underlying specific antigenic stimulation, or some other more specific immune dysfunction.

Adult↗

Cytomegalovirus colitis and oesophageal ulceration in the context of AIDS: clinical manifestations and preliminary report of treatment with Foscarnet (phosphonoformate).

Three patients with biopsy diagnosed invasive cytomegalovirus infection of the colon have been seen in the context of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Cytomegalovirus colitis presented with fever, abdominal distention, bloody diarrhoea and weight loss. Plain abdominal radiographs showed generalised large bowel dilatation in one patient. Cytomegalovirus infection was shown histologically, but the virus could not be cultured from the stool; no other gastrointestinal pathogens could be demonstrated. The patients were treated with a 14 day continuous infusion of Foscarnet 0.08 mg/kg/min (phosphonoformate, Astra Pharmaceuticals). One patient showed a partial response to therapy, but the cytomegalovirus colitis relapsed; the second patient had a symptomatic response only and the third patient died of non-cytomegalovirus opportunist infection while on treatment. Two other patients with biopsy proven cytomegalovirus ulceration of the oesophagus were seen, presenting with dysphagia, fever and weight loss. Invasive infection of the gastrointestinal tract with cytomegalovirus is now a major clinical problem in AIDS. Treatment with Foscarnet may be initially effective, but does not eliminate cytomegalovirus infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Anti-Rnp antibodies in chronic liver diseases.

Antinuclear antibodies are commonly observed in chronic liver disorders. Sera from 87 patients with various chronic liver diseases were tested for the presence of antibodies against two extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) - RNP and Sm. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) anti-RNP antibodies were detected in 13 patients (15%) most of whom had cryptogenic or primary biliary cirrhosis. When the sera were further tested by ELISA for the presence of anti-Sm antibodies no antibody binding could be detected. These findings support the notion that anti-RNP (but not anti-Sm) antibodies are included among the autoantibodies shared by systemic lupus erythematosus and chronic liver diseases.

Autoantibodies↗