[Relation between chronic respiratory diseases in children and secretory IgA and IgM]

In 1981-1984 from a total of 288 children aged 6-36 months, suffering from acute and relapsing respiratory disease, in 52 children in the nasopharyngeal secretion IgM was detected in average amounts of 11.3 +/- 9.7 mg/100 ml. In 13 of the children in the course of 1-2 years after the first examination the IgM values in the nasopharyngeal secretion doubled or increased several times (20-50 mg/100 ml). The values in saliva at the age of 5-9 years were in seven of these children lower than the mean physiological values of SIgA in saliva (34.3 +/- 15.9 mg/100 ml). In 12 children in the course of 5-9 years chronic respiratory disease developed--obstructive bronchitis. In six children, where during school age in saliva mean SIgA values lower than normal were recorded, more frequent relapses and complications were recorded (pneumonia, sinobronchial syndrome, otitis media). Elevated values of SIgM in the nasopharyngeal secretion of infants and toddlers with acute and relapsing bronchitis can be considered a risk factor for the development of chronic disease, in particular in case of a permanently reduced SIgA formation also in saliva.