Immunoglobulin-containing cells in non-tropical sprue.

Immunofluorescent microscopy studies of jejunal biopsies from ten patients with gluten-induced enteropathy are reported. Eight biopsies were examined before and five after onset of gluten-free diet. Fluorescent antisera specifically reacting with IgA, IgG and IgM were applied, and accordingly the cells were differentiated and quantitated. The immunofluorescence microscopy revealed an increased amount of immunoglobulin-containing cells in both treated and untreated cases of sprue. The distribution of the immunoglobulin-containing cells within the three immunoglobulin classes was significantly altered as the proportion of IgM- and IgG-containing cells was elevated.