Document JnJ91xZL7rr9gd43kaex1B7e

fI CHANGES OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN SYNTHESIS I N OLD PEOPLE M. ENGLISOVAM,. ENGLIV~,. KYRAL, K. K O U ~ ~ LanEdKK. DvoiitiK Central military hospital, Prague; Postgradualte medical institute, Prague; Regional hospital, $*$+a CeskC Budi!jovice, CSSR c .de PATHOLOGICAL proteins, formerly described as paraproteins, M-components, etc., were till recently considered practically exclusively as a symptom of myeloma and Walden- mom's macroglobulinaemia. However, convincing evidence was provided that they much more frequently also in other diseases and in healthy subjects (Axelsson et al., ; Derycke et al., 1965; Haferkamp et al., 1966; HdlCn, 1966). In the normal population the incidence of pathological proteins rises distinctly with and usually we find in these subjects pathological proteins in low concentrations-in cent less than lg/100 ml and most frequently the lowest detectable concentrations ut 0.3 g/100 mI were recorded (HaIICn, 1966). tried to assess whether the incidence increases also in very old subjects in the ecade and whether, when more sensitive methods are used, pathological proteins be detected in lower concentrations than 0.3 g/100 ml. MATERIAL AND METHODS tal of 446 subjects were examined. (a) 369 subjects aged 65-79 yr, (b) 51 subjects yr. The subjects of both groups were in the course of one year hospitalized of various conditions with the exception of myeloma and Waldenstrom's obulinaemia. (c) 26 subjects aged 90-99 yr from an old age pensioners' home, ered only changes common in advanced age (arthroses, atherosclerosis, mental oresis was performed in the usual way in 1.5 per cent agar gel, 5p1 of serum red into a circular opening, the separation took place at 5 V/cm without n the modification by Popadiuk (1961): into the canal in agar gel 10 pl transferred and separated at 20 V/cm under cooling. sensitivity of both methods for detection of homogeneous gradients was by the migration of albumin towards y G immunoglobulin. During common esis it is possible to assess by this method reliably a homogeneous albumin t a concentration of 0.3 g albumin/100 ml, by agarophoresis in Popadiuk's on still at a concentration of 0-1albumin/100 ml. RESULTS the group of 369 subjects aged 65-79 yr, using common agarophoresis, we detected pica1 gradient of a pathological protein in six subjects, i.e. in 1.6 per cent. In the of 51 subjects aged 80-89 yr we recorded, using common agarophoresis, an a1 gradient in four subjects, i.e. in 7.8 per cent and when using the more sensitive Sensitivity of method Incidence of pathological proteins in age groups 65-79 80-89 90-99 0.3 g/100 ml 1.9"6 5.7% - 0 . 3 g/100 ml 1'6% 7.8% - 0.1 g/100 ml - 11.7% 19% method described by Popadiuk in 11.7 per cent, i.e. in a total of six subjects. In the group of subjects aged 90-99 yr we used only Popadiuk's modification and an atypical gradient was found in five subjects, i.e. in 19 per cent (Table 1). DISCUSSION If we compare our results with those of Axelsson et al. (1966) (Table l), it is obvious that when equally sensitive methods are used, the results in the same age groups are very similar. There are, however, marked differences when more sensitive methods are used. From our results it is apparent that the relationship between the incidence of pathological proteins and age applies also in the tenth decade. We assume that the detected atypical gradients in the sphere of electrophoretic migration of immunoglobulins are a manifestation of enhanced monoclonal antibody synthesis(Waldenstrom, 1964). These changes of immunoglobulin synthesis in advanced age may contribute to the explanation of the fact that immunoglobulins increase with age, while the total serum antibody activity declines (Haferkamp et al., 1966). REFERENCES AXEUSON,U., BACHMA", R. and HALL&, J. (1966) Acta med. scand. 179,235. (1966) DWYCKEC,., FINE, J. M. and BOFFA,G. A. (1965) Nouo. Rhvue fr. Hemat. 5,729. HMERMMPO,., SCHLETTWEIN-GSEDL.,LS,CHWICHK.,G. and ST~RIKKO. ,(1966) Klin.Wschr. 44,725. HAL*, J. (1966) Discrete Gammaglobulin (M-) Components in serum. Sydsvenska Dagbladets Aktiebolag, Malmo. POPADI~LK. ,(1961) Arch Immun.Ter.Dos. 9,139. WALDENSTRJ~.M(1,964) Acta med. scand. 176, 343. Summary-In 446 subjects aged 65-99 yr 17 times the presence of an atypical gradient in the sphere of immunoglobulin migration was detected. T h e findings are discussed in relation to the immunoglobulin concentration and their antibodyactivity -- in old people. RCsumC-Chez 446 sujets igis de 65 i 99 ans la prksence d'un gradient atypique dans la sphbre de la migration d'immunoglobuline a kt6 dktectke 17 fois. Les resultats sont discutks du point de vue concentration d'immunoglobulines et de leur activitk anticorps chez les vieillards. CHANGES OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN SYNTHESIS I N OLD PEOPLE Zusammenfassung-Bei 446 Penonen im Alter von 66-69 Jahren wurde 17 mal F ein atypischer Gradient im Bereich der Immunglobulinwanderung festgestellt. Die Befunde aerden hinsichtlich der Immunglobulinkonzentration und ihrer AntikSrperaktivitat bei alten Leuten diskutiert.