Immunologic studies of patients with pulmonary emphysema

Antinuclear antibodies representing homogeneous, speckled, nucleolar and peripheral nuclear immunofluorescent staining patterns were observed in the serum of 14 of 15 (93%) patients with a confirmed physiologic and radiologic diagnosis of pulmonary emphysema within each of the 3 major immunoglobulin classes (IgG, IgA and IgM) at an incidence of 80, 20 and 67% respectively. Measurement of serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE) disclosed that 7 of 15 (47%) and 8 of 15 (53%) had elevated levels of IgA (≥ 345.3 mg/100 ml) and IgE (≥750.0 IU/ml), respectively. This group of patients was further characterized by a mean level of alpha antitrypsin of 210 ± 117.9 mg/100 ml. Rheumatoid factor was negative (<1:20) in all patients.