OK-432 is generally given muscularly or subcutaneously. But, in the case of the subcutaneous injection, one often cannot help ceasing to inject because of severe local dermal reaction. The local immunity at the intestinum mucosa suggested by Besredka in 1927, was applied to the oral administration. McGhee reported that antigen given perorally stimulates the immuno competent cell at Peyer's nodules. The stimulated immuno competent cell becomes matured by general circulation and reaches the local mucosa of salivary glands and guts etc, and then produces the specific IgA. The eight cases, administered perorally, were followed. Three were tongue, two were mandibul and maxilla and one was floor of the mouth. Six subjects were males, two were females. Radiotherapy was given in all cases, operations in five cases. The usual dose of OK-432 was 5 KE. It was administered for seven consecutive days and during about two months administered every other day, after that once a week or two. The immune reactions of the skin test for Su-PS and PPD were examined before administration and one, two, and four weeks, two and three moths after. At the same time the specific IgA for OK-432 in saliva was also examined. The levels of the s-IgA tended to increase after oral administration. In cases of increasing levels of s-IgA, the reactions of thes kin test for Su-PS were enhanced. This suggested the possibility of the oral administration of OK-432 stimulating general immunity.
Now, the levels of the s-IgA were correlated with the reactions of the skin test for Su-PS. So we will be able to interpret the general immunity from the reactions of the skin test for Su-PS. The relation between the reactions of the skin test for PPD and the levels of the s-IgA were not defined.
