[Behavior of immunoglobulins following traumatologically indicated splenectomy]

Blood levels of the immunoglobulins A, G and M were determined in a group of thirty patients, who had been splenectomized subsequent to splenal trauma, as part of a series of follow-up studies on polytrauma patients. These levels were compared with the corresponding values of an otherwise similar group of patients who had not been splenectomized. With few exceptions the majority of globulin levels in both groups were with the norm. The levels of IgG and IgA were significantly higher in the group of splenectomized patients, the IgM level was significantly lower than that of the comparison group of non-splenectomized patients. The medical history of the splenectomized patients showed no increase in susceptibility to infections and the average globulin levels were also well within the norm. Therefore, the clinical significance of these findings seems doubtful.