Demonstration of the efficiency of specific mucous membrane defense by factor analysis.

Gastric juice and bile fractions A, B, C of 143 patients, vaginal secretion and cervical mucus of further 257 patients, and the sera of all patients, were studied for IgG, IgA, IgM, complement C3, albumin and transferrin, together with acidity tests and microbiological study. The data thus obtained, nearly 10 000 in number, were subjected to automated (factor) analysis. This revealed certain concealed relationships which has been superimposed by the manifestations: the specific defense of the mucous membranes resulting from the activity of the secretory immune system takes effect only under special conditions. The local secretory immune factors, together with the effects connected with acidity and proteolytic activity, are deployed only in the stomach and duodenum at the first level of mucous membrane defense. For the defense of the genital mucous membranes--in the period of sexual activity and reproduction--the transudative factors of the serum resulting from hormonal activity are responsible, and only if these factors are affected does the specific defense mechanism of the mucous membranes take action.