[Immunoglobulin in the blood and peritoneal secretions during the early postoperative phase]

After abdominal surgery the immunoglobulins in the peritoneal fluid and in the serum were measured in the early postoperative period in 34 patients with benign and malignant lesions. In comparison with the preoperative value there was postoperatively a serum decrease of 30% of the immunoglobulins. In the serum there was no difference in the cancer and no cancer group. An important difference was noted in the concentration of the peritoneal cavity fluid values. After operation in the biliary tract the peritoneal immunoglobulins fell to 50% of the serum level but improved rapidly after the patient recovered. After cancer surgery on the colon, the IG level fell without any later improvement. Purulent abdominal infections led to levels of the IG in the peritoneal fluid that were almost impossible to measure.