[Immune level in diffuse peritonitis (author's transl)]

In patients suffering from diffuse peritonitis serum levels of Ig A, Ig M and Ig G were examined. In general, there was no decrease of serum concentration. On the contrary an increase of Ig M and Ig A with a concomitant decrease of the serum albumin level could be observed in the postoperative phase. This happened especially in patients with a lethal outcome. The results obtained do not speak for a severe impairment of the humoral immunity in patients with diffuse peritonitis. Final conclusions concerning the evaluation of an additional gammaglobulin therapy in patients with peritonitis cannot be drawn.