RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IMMUNOGLOBULIN LEVELS AND EXTREMES OF SOLAR-ACTIVITY

The possible relationship between epidemics and extremes of solar acti vity has been discussed previously. The purpose of the present study w as to verify whether differences in the levels of immunoglobulins (IgA , IgG, IgM) could be noted at the highest (July 1989) and lowest (Sept ember 1986) points of the last (21st) and present (22nd) 11-year solar cycle. The work was divided into a 1-month study (covering the month of minimal or maximal solar activity), a 3-month study (1 month before and after the month of minimal or maximal solar activity) and a 5-mon th study (2 months before and after the month of minimal or maximal so lar activity). A trend of a drop-off for all three immunoglobulins was seen on the far side of the maximal point of the solar cycle. Statist ical significance was achieved in the 5-month study for IgM (P=0.04), and a strong trend was shown for IgG (P=0.07). Differences between the sexes were also noted.