IMMUNOGLOBULINS IN SERUM AND JEJUNAL BIOPSIES IN NON‐TROPICAL SPRUE

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Abstract
A study has been made of 12 patients with non‐tropical sprue. Immunochemical determinations of serum IgG, IgA and IgM were carried out prior to gluten‐free diet (9 patients) and during treatment (10 patients). Immunofluorescent microscopy of jejunal biopsies from the same patients was performed prior to (10 cases) and during treatment (6 cases). Fluorescent antisera specifically reacting with IgG, IgA and IgM were applied and the cells containing these immunoglobulins were differentiated and quantitated accordingly.Serum IgM, which was decreased in untreated patients, was normalized during treatment. Serum levels of IgG and IgA were normal. In both treated and untreated cases of sprue increased numbers of cells containing IgG and IgM were found. The immunoglobulin levels of serum were not correlated to the area of cells containing the corresponding immunoglobulins.