Comparative and correlative study of level of IgA in tears and serum in children and adults [healthy subjects]

ABSTRACT

In the present work, a correlative and comparative study of serum IgA and tear IgA concentrations in normal subjects were done and both were compared in relation to age. For this purpose forty normal subjects were selected and divided into 2 equal groups I. The children group includes individuals with age ranging from 5-13 years. 2. The adult group includes individuals with age ranging from 15-47 years [8 females and 12 males]. We obtained blood and tear samples from each case and estimations of serum IgA and tear IgA was done [using radial immune diffusion technique]. The obtained results showed that in adult age there is always a certain degree of correlation between age and both serum and tear IgA levels [positive correlation], as well as between serum and lacrimal IgA levels [negative correlation]. While in young age, correlation only existed between age and tear IgA levels, moreover this correlation was of a negative type i.e. the younger the child the higher the value of tear IgA level. According to our findings, namely absence of significant correlation between serum IgA and tear IgA in children and the negative correlation between serum IgA and tear IgA in adults, one may conceivably postulate that the production of tear IgA is a local process and not a simple transduction from serum