Lymphocyte function response to gammaglobulin infusion in common variable and sex-linked agammaglobulinaemia.

Lymphocyte electrophoretic mobility and natural killer cytotoxic activity are marked deranged in agammaglobulinaemia. These alterations can be normalised by correction of the serum Ig pattern. This suggests that Ig activity goes beyond specific antibody activity. I.v. Ig, in fact, exert several activities that also involve T-cell regulatory functions. It would thus be more correct to speak of "immunotherapy" of humoral immunodeficiencies with i.v. Ig, rather than simple "immunosubstitution".