Abstract des Autors

After demonstration of a transient decrease in salivary levels of immunoglobulin A (lgA) after intense exercise in elite athletes, there has been considerable interest in the immune status, and the relevance of alterations in immunity, in this group. In "normal" elite athletes a pattern of transient changes after intense training has been documented, which includes a reduction in salivary IgA after exercise, an alteration in IgG subclasses, a decrease in CD8 positive T lymphocyte and NK cell numbers, and neutrophilia. Recently a link has been established between the level of lgA in saliva and the frequency of episodes of upper respiratory tract infection. A persistent decrease in IgA levels in saliva has been well documented in some athletes, but there have been no reports of a persistent reduction of serum immunoglobulins below the normal reference range(s). Such an observation is of importance both for identifying the extent to which exercise-associated immune suppression can occur, and to avoid a diagnosis of primary immune deficiency. We describe a case of hypogammaglobulinemia that developed in an otherwise healthy male elite swimmer during a time of intense training and decreased performance, in whom serum immunoglobulin levels remained below the normal reference range until cessation of the intensive training program. Verf.-Referat