Immunological Mystery of Cœliac Disease

Dermatitis Herpetiformis IMMUNOLOGIC CONCOMITANTS OF SMALL INTESTINAL DISEASE AND RELATIONSHIP TO HISTOCOMPATIBILITY ANTIGEN HL-A8

“…With regard to the increased mucosal IgA synthesis, a similar abnormality in mucosal IgA synthesis has previously been demonstrated in patients with GSE and, in both diseases, this increased IgA synthesis is associated with elevated circulating IgA levels (20,21). Thus, at least with regard to IgA immunoglobulin production, the intestinal lesions of GSE and DH are similar.…”

Incorporation of l-leucine-14C into immunoglobulins by jejunal biopsies of patients with celiac sprue and other gastrointestinal diseases

“…The other abnormality in serum immunoglobulins, the reduced concentration of IgM in celiac sprue patients, is also not well understood. Despite the low concentration of IgM in serum, and despite the detection of decreased total body synthesis of IgM in this disease, as determined by turnover studies (24), the number of intestinal mucosal plasma cells containing IgM was found to be increased (20). The concentration of IgM in serum does not appear related to the severity of the disease (19,22) or to the presence of splenic atrophy (24,25).…”

“…The improvement in patients with celiac sprue noted after treatment with adrenal steroids may be one indication of such a role (18 (19,20,22 t Assayed by anti-IgA-cellulose. (23) and by the observation that the presence of secretory IgA in serum did not correlate with the concentration of IgA in serum or with the activity of the disease.…”

Malignant Lymphoma Initiated with Malabsorption Syndrome Due to Isospora belli Infection and Lymphocytosis

“…Lymphocyte response to phytoheinagglutinin as an expression of cellular immunity had been depressed throughoutthe course of the present case even before the appearance of malignant lymphoma. Insome investigations it was reported that the lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin was depressed in celiac disease (Hobbs et al 1969)and Whipple's disease (Maxwell et al 1968). Clinical features of our case were quite atypical for malignant lymphoma and the patienthad been infected with Isospora.…”