IMMUNOGLOBULINS IN HUMAN TEARS

Tears from healthy young adults contained a substantial quantity of immunoglobulin A when measured in standard immunodiffusion tests. No IgM was found and levels of IgG were low compared to those of serum but were not quantitated. There was no significant fluctuation in tear IgA in any individual tested over a four-week period. Two patients with monocular dendritic keratitis had levels of tear IgA comparable to normal levels. A narrow range of IgA concentrations can be obtained in any tear sample when similar collection techniques are employed. Low levels of herpes-neutralizing activity were found in the tears of five out of 17 subjects tested. In each instance this antibody activity resided in the IgA component. One patient had no detectable herpes-neutralizing activity during the active phase of her disease but this activity was present two months later when the disease had subsided. Two normal subjects also had evidence of fluctuation in their tears. This data indicates that approximately one of five normal people have small levels of herpes-neutralizing activity in their tears and that this activity can fluctuate with time; it may even be undetectable with these methods on some occasions. Further study is warranted to elucidate the relationship between tear antiherpes IgA and recurrent ocular herpetic keratoconjunctivitis. © 1969.