Study of colostrum of a patient with selective IgA deficiency
Barros, M.D.; Porto, M.H.; Leser, P.G.; Grumach, A.S.; Carneiro-Sampaio, M.M.
Allergologia et Immunopathologia 13(4): 331-334
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-0546 PMID: 4083232 Document Number: 248566
In a study of immunological factors in colostrum, we detected an 18-year old primipara with selective IgA deficiency and with a history of 3 previous hospitalizations for bronchopneumonia. Peripheral blood studies showed: IgG = 1240 mg%; IgM = 160 mg, and undetectable IgA on two different occasions. B lymphocyte measurement by immunofluorescence for membrane immunoglobulins, T lymphocyte determination by rosette formation with sheep red cells, and T lymphocyte determination with monoclonal antibodies of the Ortho series showed normal results. Salivary IgA was undetectable. The colostrum results were: undetectable IgA (mean, 19.2 g/l); IgM, 22,2 g/l (mean, 2.3 g/l); IgG, 1.3 g/l (mean, 0.7 g/l), and lysozyme, 214.2 mu/ml (mean, 157.1 mu/ml). The very high IgM levels detected in the colostrum of these patients are interpreted to be a compensatory factor for the lack of IgA.