Abnormal rectal immunoglobulin pattern in Hirschsprung's disease.

The immunoglobulin content of rectal biopsy tissue and secretions from twelve neonates in whom Hirschsprung's disease was suspected was determined by an organ-culture technique and radioimmunoassay. The immunoreactive IgG content of explanted rectal tissue and its secretions in those six children who proved to have Hirschsprung's disease was much higher than in those with other types of obstructive lower-intestinal disease. Increased amounts of IgG may represent maternally derived antibody associated with neonatal gut neural elements. This seems to be the first report of an immunological abnormality in Hirschsprung's disease.