Deficiency of secretory Ig-A and intestinal malabsorption.

A patient under treatment with hemodialysis suffered increasing clinical and laboratory evidence of intestinal malabsorption. Jejunal aspirates revealed heavy bacterial and mycotic flora within the proximal jejunum. Secretory Ig-A and secretory component were present only in trace amounts. The deficiency of the generally ubiquitous secretory component is particularaly striking. Oral administration of 20-30 ml. colostrum daily reversed not only the clinical evidence but also laboratory findings of intestinal malabsorption.