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[IgA deficiency in pediatrics]
A Paci1, G Crimaldi, P Migliaccio
1II Cattedra di Clinica Pediatrica, Università degli Studi, Pisa, Italia.
Insights
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency was found in 17.39% of children. This deficiency is linked to chronic conditions, particularly enteric diseases, suggesting it may be a chronicizing factor.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
Background:
- Selective IgA deficiency is the most common primary immunodeficiency.
- IgA is crucial for mucosal immunity, protecting against pathogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence and impact of Immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency in children admitted to a day hospital.
- To investigate the association between IgA deficiency and chronic or recurrent pathologies, particularly enteric and respiratory diseases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 368 children's medical records.
- Serum IgA levels were measured and compared to age-specific normal values.
- Classification of IgA deficiency as partial (5-30 mg/L) or severe (<5 mg/L).
Main Results:
- Overall IgA deficiency prevalence was 17.39% (64/368 children).
- Higher prevalence of IgA deficiency observed in children with enteric diseases (45.3%) and respiratory diseases (34.3%).
- 83% of children with IgA deficiency had chronic pathologies, suggesting a link between IgA deficiency and chronicity.
Conclusions:
- IgA deficiency is relatively common in pediatric day hospital populations.
- IgA deficiency may act as a chronicizing factor in various pediatric pathologies, especially enteric and respiratory conditions.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms linking IgA deficiency to chronic disease development.
Abstract:
To evaluate the IgA deficiency we have considered 368 children, admitted to "Day hospital" for different pathologies: 64 of them had serum IgA levels lower than the normal values for their age according to Ellis and Robbin. The age of the children with this deficiency was included from 4 months up to 8 years: 39 were boys, 25 were girls. In 54 cases the IgA deficiency was "partial" that is: the IgA value found out was lower than the normal for the age, but higher than 5 mg%. In 10 cases the IgA deficiency was "severe" (the IgA value was lower than 5 mg%). Six cases, among the 29 ones with intestinal diseases, had a severe deficiency, whereas among the 22 cases with respiratory diseases 3 had a "severe" deficiency. The 2 patients with urinary disease had a partial deficiency; only one case of the remaining 11 with different pathologies had a "severe" deficiency. Among the carriers of serum IgA deficiency an high incidence of chronic pathology has been found out (83%). Nevertheless the percentage of IgA deficiency extrapolated from the all case histories doesn't differ very much (64 cases among 368 = 17.39%) considering only those patients with chronic relapsing pathology (53 cases among 275 = 18.2%). Therefore it seems that the IgA deficiency could be considered a chronicizing factor in the examinated pathology even if in few cases. Anyway the frequency of IgA deficiency has reached major values (29/54; 45.3%) in the patients with enteric diseases. The frequency of IgA deficiency is smaller but still important in those patients with respiratory diseases (22/64: 34.3%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)