ABSTRACT. Simultaneous colostrum (C) and plasma samples (P) from 14 women, 1 to 5 days postpartum, were examined. Total IgD and specific IgD antibodies to & lactoglobulin, bovine serum albumin, Bermuda grass, and a-gliadin were measured by solid phase radioimmunoassay. The geometric mean concentrations of IgD were 35.8 (range 2.2-410) &dl for colostrum and 591.3 (range 72-4100) pgldl for plasma. Six subjects had a specific IgD antibody C/P ratio more than 10-fold greater than the total IgD C/P ratio, suggesting enhancement of antibody to a specific antigen in the mammary gland. All six had C/P ratios suggestive of local enhancement of IgD antibody to Bermuda grass, and two met this criterion for enhancement of IgD antibodies to &lactoglobulin, bovine serum albumin, or a-gliadin. Specimens for these studies were obtained during the peak grass pollen season. Seventeen additional subjects were studied to compare total IgD in colostrum and plasma with total IgG and serum albumin. The mean C/P ratio for IgD (0.055 f 0.015) exceeded the C/P ratio for total IgG (0.015 f 0.003) or total albumin (0.020 f 0.002). For 14 of 17 subjects the colostrum/plasma ratio for IgD exceeded the C/P ratio for albumin or IgG. Data were transformed logarithmically and correlation coefficients calculated. For albumin versus IgG in colostrum, there was a strong correlation, r = 0.865, p = 0.001. This was different from albumin versus IgD, r = 0.489, p = 0.046 and from IgD versus IgG, r = 0.556, p = 0.020. These analyses support a different mechanism of entry of IgD into milk compared to I& or albumin. These studies also suggest that IgD antibodies may participate in responses of the mucosal immune system. (Pediatr Res 19: 122-126,1985) Abbreviations C, colostrum P, plasma C/P, colostrum/plasma ratio BG, Bermuda grass BLG, j3-lactoglobulin BSA, bovine serum albumin Recent interest in both animal and human breast milk immunology concerns homing of lymphoblasts from mucosal sites to the mammary gland with resultant local production of im-

A new radioimmunoassay for cerebral cysticercosis was studied in 70 patients. The assay showed nearly 100% sensitivity for ventricular cysts or meningitis, 86% sensitivity for multiple parenchymal cysts, and a false-positive rate of 7%. Both serum and CSF antibody levels were useful diagnostically, and the contribution of both improved accuracy. In some patients, there was endogenous CNS production of IgG against the cysticercus antigen, which leads to elevated CSF levels and normal serum levels. Patients with high CSF total IgG levels may show false-positive CSF antibody elevation with normal serum levels.

Chronic generalized lymphadenopathy (CGL) in homosexual men may be a prodrome of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Depressed cell mediated immunity including low T-helpe r:Tsuppre ssor rat ios are commonly detected. To evaluate humoral immune functio n we immunized 9 CGL pat ients with pneumococcal polysacchar ide (PPS) vaccine and the