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[Clinical relevance of immunoglobulin A deficiency in celiac disease]
J Sardi1, F Casellas, I de Torres
1Departamento de Anatomía Patológica. Hospital General Vall d'Hebron. Barcelona.
Background:
To determine the prevalence of the IgA deficiency in patients with celiac disease and its influence on the presentation and evolution of celiac disease.
Patients And Method:
47 patients with clinical and histological diagnosis of celiac disease were included. Seric immunoglobulin levels were determined in all patients.
Results:
Five patients presented a low level of IgA (IgA-deficient group) and 42 patients presented normal levels (non-IgA-deficient group). The age and the relation male/female were similar between both groups. Presentation, clinical manifestations, analytic data of intestinal malabsorption, and the radiologic pattern were also similar between both groups of patients. There were bronchiectasies in two out of 5 IgA-deficient patients and in only one out of 42 non-IgA- deficient patients (p < 0.05). None of the IgA-deficient group showed complications due to the celiac disease, meanwhile 3 non-IgA deficient patients developed intestinal lymphoma (p = NS).
Conclusions:
The IgA deficiency is frequently associated to celiac disease. This association does not seem to influence in a significant way the presentation or the evolution of celiac disease.