Persistent immune deficiency in patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

T-lymphocyte subset numbers, recall-antigen skin test responses and mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation assays were investigated in 12 patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH). Serial studies of these parameters were obtained at intervals of 1 or 2 wk. Patients with AH had lower peripheral blood lymphocyte counts with corresponding decreases in T-cell subset numbers that were persistent in the serial evaluations. T8 cells were disproportionately decreased, with a significant resultant increase in the T4:T8 ratios. Compared with controls, AH patients had significantly smaller cutaneous responses to Candida albicans antigen (p less than 0.05) and mumps antigen (p less than 0.005). Fifty-eight percent of patients were anergic when tested with a battery of four antigens. Patients with AH had increased concanavalin A-, but not phytohemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte proliferative responses. These serial analyses confirm previous observations of cell-mediated immune dysfunction in patients with severe AH. Moreover, there is a persistence of these abnormalities for at least 6 wk after withdrawal from alcohol.