[Determination of 11S IgA in nasal secretions in the monitoring of local immunomodulating therapy].

Twenty pediatric patients with recurrent infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract (tonsillitis, adenotonsillitis with or without involvement of the ear and/or lower respiratory tract) were studied. An immunological assay of the nasal secretum was performed at time of diagnosis and following treatment with a local immunomodulator drug, administered by spray. The 7S, 11S IgA and albumin rates were evaluated. The authors emphasize the importance of SIgA in mucose defense mechanisms as well as the need for a selective method for determining the 11S IgA level. An original method for immuno-isoelectrofocusing (IIEF) determination was employed in the present study. After treatment a significant increase in 11S IgA level was observed, especially in those patients with a significant basal SIGA deficit. The authors describe details of the technique for determination and discuss the results.