Evaluating serum levels of IgM, IgA, IgG, changes after adenotonsillectomy

ntroduction: Adenoids and tonsils, which are major components of secondary lymphoid organs, appear to function as the host's first line of defense against exogenous microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to investigate possible impacts of Adenotonsillectomy in serum levels of IgA, IgG, IgM as indicators of humoral immunity, but there is a controversy about immunologic effect of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

Pre and post operative serum samples were collected from 40 patients (7-11 years old) referred for adenotonsillectomy. Serum samples were analyzed, using Radial Immune Diffusion (RID) method to determine levels of IgA, IgG, IgM, before and 3 week after surgery.

The level of IgA and IgM were reduced in post operative period. But this was not statistically significant. However, it was found that the level of IgG was reduced in the post operative period and this reduction was statistically significant (P<0.01).

The results of this study indicate that adenotonsillectomy had not a significant effect on two major parts of humoral immunity (IgA and IgM) but it reduced IgG levels.