Difference in specific IgG and IgG(4) antibodies against Candida aibicans between healthy and asthmatic subjects in the elderly

Specific IgG and IgG(4) antibodies against Canadida albicans were exmined in 48 healthy and 69 asthmatic subjects to analyze the mechanism causing an increased production of these immunoglobulins. 1. The level of C.albicans-specific IgG and IgG(4) antibodies was higher, not significantly in IgG(4), in asthmatics under 30 years of age, compared with healthy subjects of the same age group. 2. Specific IgG and IgG(4) antibody levels in both healthy and asthmatic subjects showed a tendency to increase with aging, and significant difference was present between cases under 30 years and cases over 70 years of age. 3. Any difference in the production of specific IgG and IgG(4) was not observed in elderly cases older than 60 years between healthy and asthmatic subjects.

高齢者(61才以上)の健常人48名および気管支喘息患者69例を対象に,カンジダ特異的IgGおよびIgG(4)抗体を測定し,その増加の機序について若干の検討を加えた｡なお,対照としては,30才以下の健常者および気管支喘息患者を選んだ。1.カンジダ特異的IgGおよびIgG(4)抗体価は,30才以下では,健常人に比べ気管支喘息症例で高い傾向が見られ,特異的IgG抗体では両者間に有意の差が見られた(p<0.05)。2.カンジダ特異的IgGおよびIgG(4)抗体は,健常人および気管支喘息症例いずれも加齢とともに増加する傾向が見られ,71才では,30才以下の症例に比べ有意に高い抗体価を示した｡3.61才以上の高齢者では,特異的IgG,IgG(4)抗体いずれにおいても,健常人と気管支喘息患者との間に有意の差は見られなかった。