[Serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM, IgA) levels in patients with primary brain tumors (author's transl)]

The concentration of serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA) in 63 patients of primary brain tumors were determined by the method of single radial immunodiffusion. 1) The mean values and standard deviations of three major serum immunoglobulins in 18 cases of meningioma were as follows; IgG, 1297.0 +/- 387.9 mg/dl, IgM, 165.1 +/- 153.4 mg/dl, IgA, 219.5 +/- 76.7 mg/dl. These values were not significantly different with those in normals. 2) 45 cases of gliomas showed; IgG, 1190.5 +/- 378.3 mg/dl, IgM, 160.0 +/- 75.9 mg/dl, IgA, 189.8 +/- 91.5 mg/dl. These values were in normal levels as compared with normal serum immunoglobulins. 3) Values of serum immunoglobulins in 19 cases of glioblastoma multiforme were compared with those in 18 cases of astrocytoma to know the relationship between histological malignancy and levels of serum immunoglubulins. But no significant difference was observed between these values. The levels of three major serum immunoglobulins either in meningiomas or in gliomas were not significantly different with those in normals. Therefore, the levels of serum immunoglobulins could not be used as a diagnotic procedure in cases of primary brain tumors.