[Immunofluorescent morphometric studies of immunoglobulin-forming cells in small intestine biopsy specimens].

A simplified immunofluorescent morphometric technique for quantitative determination of immunoglobulin-forming cells (Ig-FC) in the small intestine mucosa was described. The following average values were established in 19 cases with chronic enteritis: total amount of Ig-FC: 117.5/0.1 mm2 villous area; IgA-FC = 78.4%, IgM-FC = 15.6%, and IgG-FC = 4.8%. An increased number of Ig-FC was found in a case with the syndrome of Peutz-Jeghers and in a case with alcoholic pancreatitis. Relatively high percentages of IgM-FC were established in two cases with long lasting chronic enterocolitis. The immunofluorescent study was performed simultaneously with the routine histology on the same biopsy specimens.