Association between acute lymphoblastic leukemia and partial IgA deficiency in a young man--a family study

We report on an unusual association between partial IgA deficiency and acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a young man. We also report results of the family study of immunoglobulin levels, sIgA B cells, in vitro IgA synthesis and molecular analysis of the structural C alpha genes. The IgA deficiency was present at diagnosis of leukemia prior to any therapy. The indirect arguments for a preexisting IgA deficiency are the absence of improvement of the IgA level during complete remission and especially the finding of a similar partial IgA deficiency in a sister who shared the same HLA haplotype, had a low percentage of sIgA B cells and decreased in vitro IgA production. The mother, who had a normal IgA serum level also had decreased in vitro IgA synthesis. No major structural C alpha gene defect was found. The relationship between acute lymphoblastic leukemia and IgA deficiency remains to be elucidated.