IMMUNOGLOBULINS IN PULMONARY EOSINOPHILOSIS (TROPICAL EOSINOPHILIA)

At the V. P. Chest Institute of Delhi studies on pulmonary eosinophilosis (tropical eosinophilia) have been going on since many years. The investigations have concerned, among other factors, the pathogenesis of the disease. As regards the pathogenesis and aetiology it is at present being discussed whether infection with human filaria is the original cause of the disease. This microfilaria has, however, not generally been found in the blood or the lung tissue, but it is known that the filarial larvae and microfilariae are rapidly destroyed in the tissues. Immunological studies with the aim of disentangling some obscure points concerning the pathogenesis of the condition are at present performed at the King Gustaf V Research Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. So far it has been found that there exist distinct disturbances of the immunoglobulins. Thus there is a high percentage of IgM, but also an increase of IgG. Studies of isolated fractions of these globulins are in progress.