INVERSE EFFECT ON THE SERUM LEVELS OFγG-- AND γM--GLOBULINS AFTER PREDNISON TREATMENT OF LUPOID HEPATITIS.

The article informs that it is well established that hypogammaglobulinacmia is often found in Cushing's disease and after long-term steroid therapy. It has not been documented, however, whether or not all the-classes of immunoglobulins are reduced. Experiments on germ-free animals have clearly shown that exposure to antigens constitutes the major stimulus for normal immunoglobulin formation. The factors responsible for the remarkably constant immunoglobulin levels in healthy individuals are not yet understood, but a homeostatic mechanism can be postulated.