US Patent 7452731 Assay

A method for determining the risk of an individual of suffering from inflammation, opportunistic infection or disruption of immunoglobulin metabolism, comprising (a) determining the level of fragmentation or modification of Fc function of immunoglobulins in a sample taken from the individual and (b) determining thereby the risk of inflammation, impaired immune response or opportunistic infection. The invention also provides the use of a trypsin inhibitor in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the treatment or prevention of a disorder associated with elevated trypsin activity which is correlated with IgG fragmentation or modification.