[Humoral immunity following splenectomy in adults]

Humoral immunity was examined in a population of one hundred adult patients splenectomized after abdominal trauma without associated disease, and the results were compared with those observed in healthy individuals. We found, in addition to the disorders, a large increase in the seric concentration of total IgE, and increased presence of autoantibodies and circulating immunocomplexes. These alterations were not correlated with the asplenia period.