Serum and small intestinal immunoglobulin levels in undernourished children.

Intestinal immunoglobulin levels were quantitated in undernourished Indonesian children with enteric infections and normally nourished Indonesians with and without enteric infections. These were compared to the same parameters in Australian Aboriginal children (also suffering undernutrition) and normal Caucasian children. Children with enteric infections displayed equally elevated levels of intestinal immunoglobulin irrespective of their nutritional status. Intestinal infections appeared to elevate IgG levels more than secretory IgA levels in the age group examined. However, it appeared likely that some of the EgG was serum-derived whereas the IgA appeared to be locally produced. There was no apparent deficiency in the capacity of undernourished children to manufacture and secrete immunoglobulin in the gut.