IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDIES IN TWO CHILDREN WITH RECURRENT PAROTITIS

Abstract
In 2 children with recurrent parotitis, labial salivary gland biopsies showed chronic sialoadenitis. Immunofluorescence studies disclosed deposits of Ig and complement in juxta-acinar small vessels. Case 1 had gluten enteropathy, IgA deficiency and high titers of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and in vivo fixation of ANA to nuclei of different cells in lip, skin and jejunum was present. Case 2 showed deposition of IgM in the dermoepidermal junction of the skin. Autoimmune reactivity and immune complexes may play a role in the pathogenesis of this disorder.