The Ratio of Secretory IgA TO IgA in Middle ear Effusions and Nasopharyngeal Secretions

In children suffering from secretory otitis media (SOM) the ratio of secretory IgA (SIgA) to IgA was measured in middle ear effusions (MEE) and nasopharyngeal secretions (NPS) by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The SIgA/IgA ratio in MEE was 25 %; in NPS the corresponding ratio was 75 %. No differencies in the levels of SIgA and IgA could be shown in secretions from children with and without previous episodes of acute otitis media.