Table 4.
Clinicopathological features of primary biliary cirrhosis based on the predominant immunoglobulin class of the plasma cell
| No. of cases (female:male) | Group A 28 (25:3) | Group B 12 (10:2) | P value |
| Age (yr) | 56.1 ± 14.5 (56) | 66.0 ± 7.2 (66) | 0.0479 |
| Laboratory data | |||
| AST (IU/L) | 50.5 ± 31.2 (43.5) | 55.0 ± 28.3 (42.5) | 0.5839 |
| ALT (IU/L) | 54.2 ± 43.6 (45.5) | 55.0 ± 35.4 (46.5) | 0.7238 |
| ALP (IU/L) | 681.7 ± 655.0 (446) | 389.1 ± 136.3 (358.5) | 0.4166 |
| IgG (mg/dL) | 1737.4 ± 510.4 (1600) | 2081.3 ± 784.4 (2062.5) | 0.2658 |
| IgM (mg/dL) | 340.78 ± 219.0 (280.5) | 197.3 ± 198.7 (133.5) | 0.0077 |
| IgA (mg/dL) | 309.2 ± 129.8 (281) | 304.6 ± 107.0 (268.5) | 0.8184 |
| AMA, M2 (positive ratio) | 80.10% | 55.60% | 0.1916 |
| ANA (positive ratio) | 65.40% | 80.00% | 0.6880 |
| Histological findings (scores) | |||
| Interface hepatitis1 | 2.4 ± 0.6 (2) | 2.8 ± 0.6 (3) | 0.0688 |
| Lobular hepatitis2 | 2.3 ± 0.6 (2) | 2.3 ± 0.6 (2) | 0.8577 |
| Infiltration of mononuclear cells positive for (scores) | |||
| CD3 at the interface3 | 2.7 ± 1.2 (2.5) | 2.8 ± 1.3 (3) | 0.7039 |
| CD38 at the interface3 | 2.4 ± 1.5 (2) | 3.3 ± 1.3 (4) | 0.0205 |
| CD3 in the hepatic lobules3 | 2.1 ± 0.8 (2) | 2.4 ± 1.2 (2) | 0.5341 |
| CD38 in the hepatic lobules3 | 0.9 ± 0.9 (1) | 1.6 ± 1.1 (2) | 0.0497 |
1
The score was graded from 2 to 4 for each case;
2
the score was graded from 0 to 4 for each case;
3
The score was graded from 0 to 6 for each case. Group A, IgM-predominant cases and IgM/IgG-equal cases; group B, IgG-predominant cases. Age, laboratory data expect autoantibodies and scores are shown as the mean ± SD and (median); anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA)(+) ≥ 40; M2(+) ≥ 5; antinuclear antibodies (ANA)(+) ≥ 40. AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; ALP: Alkaline phosphatase.