Quantitative determination of serum immunoglobulins in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases with special reference to cor pulmonale.

In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, quantitative analysis of serum IgG, IgA and IgM were carried out by use of the radial immunodiffusion method. The concentration of IgE in sera was also determined by the radioactive radial immunodiffusion method. The mean value of serum IgG level in the group of cor pulmonale was higher than that in groups of emphysema, asthma and normal subjects. The mean value of serum IgA level was higher in two groups of cor pulmonale and emphysema than in the group of asthma and of normal subjects. There was no difference of serum IgM levels between these four groups. The mean value of serum IgE in the group of allergic asthma was higher than that in the group of non-allergic asthma or normal subjects and an elevated serum IgE level was also found in patients with cor pulmonale. Findings of this study suggested that the raised level of serum IgG in patients with chronic cor pulmonale might reflect production of antiheart antibodies against cardiac tissue.