Serum immunoglobulin concentrations before and after splenectomy in patients with homozygous beta-thalassaemia.

Serum IgM, IgA, and IgG concentrations were measured in 19 patients suffering from blood-dependent homozygous beta-thalassaemia. The study was prospective and the same patients served as presplenectomy controls. IgG levels rose rapidly and continuously after splenectomy IgA levels also rose but not so sharply. IgM fell to low levelr pattern was found in the cross-sectional part of the study comprising 39 splenectomised and 51 non-splenectomised patients who were tested once.