[Agammaglobulinemia and secretory IgA (author's transl)].

After serum IgA has been intravenously administered, it appears immediately in secretions, sputum, and urine. At about the same time, a mechanism is employed which leads to the concentration of IgA in the sputum. In urine, 7sIgA and SC were separately eliminated; a linkage with 11sIgA did not occur. Similar relationships are probably present in the sputum, but exact proof could not be provided. By administrating immunoglobulin concentrates which contain IgA in 7s-serum form, the IgA concentration in external secretions can be raised; replacing the physiological 11s-IgA however, is not possible. The extent to which 7sIgA can take over the function of 11sIgA in these secretions has not yet been clarified. In this connection, the use of local 11sIgA inhalation therapy rather than ultrasound atomazation seems to be well founded theoretically and also promising. Whether such therapy can be carried out practically and is successful remains to be seen.