Correlation between serum IgA, secretory IgA and total serum IgE in asthmatic and rhinitic affected patients

We studied 1,030 patients of both sexes, classified according to atopic and non-atopic, those suffering from bronchial asthma (AB), rhinitis (R) or associated AB and R, with ages between 3 months to 62 years. Total IgE, serum IgA and secretory IgA were determined in all of them in order to establish their values and to make the corresponding comparisons. Serum IgA did not show any difference in both groups, while secretory IgA showed lower values in atopic patients than non-atopic patients during childhood. Later on, their values reached a similar level. Total IgE values in atopics significantly differed from non-atopic values at all ages. There was a negative correlation coefficient between total IgE and secretory IgA in the 6 years old patients' group, and in adults. Our results suggest that IgE synthesis, genetically determined in atopics, may be influenced to higher levels in patients with lower secretory IgA levels. This latter factor, as we only measured total secretory non-specific IgA level, must be considered of relative importance.