A contribution to the study of local immunity in infants suffering from acute respiratory diseases

The presence of secretory component of 11S secretory IgA and 7S IgA in tracheobronchial secretion and in serum was determined by immunoelectrophoresis in 30 infants suffering from acute respiratory diseases. The presence of secretory component and IgA was identified in trancheobronchial secretion in all of investigated infants, even in those severe clinical picture. The presence of secretory component was not identified in serum. The determination of the presence of secretory component in tracheobronchial secretion has practical importance since it can be used for evaluation of integrity of local immunity in the course of respiratory diseases.