Serum immunoglobulin levels in various skin diseases.

Serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) determinations by the single radial immunodiffusion technique were done in patients with various skin diseases. The geometric means of the IgG, IgA and IgM concentrations of each of the patient groups were compared with those of a control group comprising 156 individuals. A significantly raised IgG level was found only in patients with pemphigus; in patients with dermatitis herpetiformis, other eczemas, and psoriasis vulgaris the IgG level was significantly lowered. The IgA level was significantly elevated in patients with discoid lupus erythematosus and (bullous) pemphigoid, and the IgM level was significantly depressed in patients with atopic dermatitis. IgE determinations, done with the Ouchterlony technique in a selected group of patients, showed raised levels in some patients with malignant reticulosis and other eczemas but not in those with atopic dermatitis. Comparison of the results of the serum immunoglobulin determinations with the immunoglobulin synthesis of lesional skin showed no correlation between the local synthesis of immunoglobulins in the skin and changes in the serum levels.