Serum concentrations of immunoglobulins and complement components in patients with recurrence after resection of gastric carcinoma.

Immunoglobulins and complement components were quantitated in sera sampled at 3-6-month intervals from 20 patients with recurrence after resection of gastric carcinoma stages I-III (pTNM). Concentrations of IgA, C3, C4, and C1-INH at clinical recurrence were increased in a significant number of patients as compared to the concentrations 3-6 months prior to recurrence. The mean concentration of C3, C4, and C1-INH were higher than prior to recurrence. At the time of recurrence, the concentrations of C3, C4, and C1-INH were higher than the corresponding postoperative concentrations among 14 patients alive and disease-free for 5 years or more. Three to six months prior to recurrence, the concentrations of C4 and C1-INH were also higher than those of the 5-year survivors. The data indicate that serial quantitation of immunoglobulins and complement components may beof value in the follow-up after resection of gastric carcinoma.