IGA LEVELS AND CARRIER RATE OF HEMOPHILUS-INFLUENZAE AND BETA-HEMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCI IN CHILDREN UNDERGOING TONSILLECTOMY

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 84  (4) , 290-298
Abstract
Studies of IgG [immunoglobulin G], IgA, IgM and IgE in serum and of IgG, IgA and IgM in saliva were performed in 52 children undergoing tonsillectomy. Levels of IgA in serum and saliva in the patients were significantly reduced compared with levels in age- and sex-related healthy controls (P < 0.001 and < 0.025, respectively). Recovery of .beta. hemolytic streptococci and H. influenzae from the removed tonsils was also well correlated with low IgA in serum (P < 0.01). A considerable lack of IgA fluorescing plasma cells in tonsillar tissue demonstrated in an earlier study of the same patients was consistent with carriage of .beta. hemolytic streptococci and H. influenzae (P < 0.01). The significant decrease in serum and saliva IgA was only found among the youngest patients in this study. The decreased level of saliva IgA may influence the increased tendency of pathogenic bacteria to adhere to and colonize on the tonsil mucosa. The lack of IgA plasma cells in the tonsils suggests that IgA prevents penetration of microorganisms through the epithelial surface, secondarily establishing an acute inflammation of the tonsils.

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