Changes in lysozyme of nasal mucus in laryngectomized subjects
Panebianco, G.; Baravelli, P.
L'oto-Rino-Laringologia Italiana 27(3): 211-222
1959
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-6630 PMID: 13633315 Document Number: 8447
The A.A. after saying a few words on the importance of lysozyme in the organism as a factor of natural immunity, refer about the researches carried out on 20 cases affected by neoplasia of larynx, in order to find out the lysozyme contents in the nasal mucus and in the serum before and after operation of total laryngectomy in a period going from a few days up to two years: They have observed the following: 1) The lysozyme concentration of the nasal mucus is different - between certain limits - in the various individuals, that is in the normal ones and in the bearers of neoplasia of larynx and non-operated ones. 2) The lysozyme contents of nasal secretus in the laryngectomized subjects undergo evident and clear variations (diminution of more than three times the lysozyme index) in comparison with that present in the mucus before the operation. 3) The lysozyme percentage of the usual secretion undergo, in the laryngectomized subjects, a fall which is much more evident during the first days after the surgical act and that increase a little afterwards, never reaching however the values found out before the operation. 4) The lysozyme concentration of the serum of blood in subjects affected by neoplasia of larynx, before and after laryngectomy doesn't undergo remarkable variations that can be put in connection with the neoplastic affection of patients or with the surgical act. The A.A. examine the results of their researches, making the supposition that the cause of the diminishing of the lysozyme contents be in connection with the functional fall of the nasal cavity, which is so shut out from its principal and complex activity as the channel of the in and out air. As regard to the clear diminution of the lysozyme index of nasal secretus, found out in the first days after operation, the A.A. suppose that the surgical act may cause the fall of humoral factors, which are incorporated in a large immunitary mechanism.
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