Serum concentrations of immunoglobulins G, A and M (IgG, IgA and IgM) were measured in 49 patients aged 41 to 80 with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis and emphysema) and in 67 normal subjects of similar age and sex distribution. In the normal subjects, concentrations of IgA rose significantly with increasing age whereas concentrations of IgG and IgM remained constant. In contrast, concentrations of IgA and IgM remained constant in the patient group whereas concentrations of IgG rose significantly with increasing age. When patients were compared to normal subjects of comparable age, average serum concentrations of IgA were found to be elevated in the younger patients (ages 41 to 50) whereas average concentrations of IgG were elevated in the older patients (ages 61 to 80). Deficiency in IgG, IgA or IgM was not a feature of chronic bronchitis and emphysema at any age.
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