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Levels of serum IgA,

SUMMARY Secretory IgA (SIgA), the isotypes IgA1 and IgA2, and IgM were measured by ELISA in stimulated parotid saliva from patients with AIDS (n= 16), subjects with asymptomatic HIV infection (n= 28), and HIV‐seronegative healthy controls (n= 19), SIgA was significantly reduced in the AIDS group (10.4 μg/ml) compared with the asymptomatic HIV‐infected subjects (17.1 μg/ml) and the controls (23.0 μg/ml). This decrease comprised both IgA1 and IgA2 to a similar extent on a relative basis. The SIgA decrease in AIDS patients was in striking contrast to their serum IgA level, which was significantly increased (6.9 g/I) compared with the asymptomatic HIV‐infected subjects (2.9 g/I) as well as the controls (2.8 g/I). Low parotid output of SIgA in patients with HIV infection was associated with low numbers of CD4+ lymphocytes in peripheral blood as well as the presence of oral infections. The parotid output of IgM was similar in all groups. A low level of SIgA in the external secretions of patients with AIDS may well contribute to their frequent mucosal infections of opportunistic microorganisms.