Immunoglobulin abnormalities in renal transplant recipients

Five renal transplant recipients were observed to have recurrent infections in association with low serum immunoglobulin levels. They have benefited from parenteral gamma globulin therapy. Following this observation, 110 renal transplant recipients were assessed; 46% had abnormal serum immunoglobulins with 4 patients identified as having monoclonal gammopathies, 8 polyclonal gammopathies, and 39 low levels of 1 or more immunoglobulins. Those with abnormal serum immunoglobulins had been immunosuppressed longer, but maintenance immunosuppression dosage was not different from those with normal immunoglobulins. Respiratory tract infection and skin cancer were more frequent in those with low immunoglobulin levels.