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[Idiopathic immunoglobulin deficiency in juveniles and adults. Catamnestic studies]
In 1974 and 1975 7000 patients' sera were tested for levels of IgG, IgA and IgM. In 330 patients at least one of the three Ig classes was low. In most instances secondary immunodeficiency was present in association with myeloma, etc. However, 81 patients above 8 years of age fulfilled the criteria of idiopathic late onset Ig deficiency. In 44 of these patients clinical follow-up and repeated measurements of Ig levels were possible 1--8 years after the initial diagnosis. Selective IgA deficiency was present initially (15 patients) most frequently and persisted most often (14 patients). 4 patients had initially low IgG and 6 patients low IgM, findings which were only rarely confirmed later on. In 19 patients 2 or 3 Ig classes were initially low, with persistence of Ig deficiency in 12 individuals. In no instance had clinical symptoms appeared in the first two years of life. The following diseases were documented in the 44 patients studied (28 individuals with persistent and 16 with transitory Ig deficiency): recurrent infections (16 patients), atopic disease (8 times), rheumatoid arthritis (6 times), epilepsy (4 times), SLE (3 times) and enteropathies (twice). Seven patients also had a malignancy, 4 diabetes, and 2 hyperthyroidism.
In 1974 and 1975 7000 patients' sera were tested for levels of IgG, IgA and IgM. In 330 patients at least one of the three Ig classes was low. In most instances secondary immunodeficiency was present in association with myeloma, etc. However, 81 patients above 8 years of age fulfilled the criteria of idiopathic late onset Ig deficiency. In 44 of these patients clinical follow-up and repeated measurements of Ig levels were possible 1--8 years after the initial diagnosis. Selective IgA deficiency was present initially (15 patients) most frequently and persisted most often (14 patients). 4 patients had initially low IgG and 6 patients low IgM, findings which were only rarely confirmed later on. In 19 patients 2 or 3 Ig classes were initially low, with persistence of Ig deficiency in 12 individuals. In no instance had clinical symptoms appeared in the first two years of life. The following diseases were documented in the 44 patients studied (28 individuals with persistent and 16 with transitory Ig deficiency): recurrent infections (16 patients), atopic disease (8 times), rheumatoid arthritis (6 times), epilepsy (4 times), SLE (3 times) and enteropathies (twice). Seven patients also had a malignancy, 4 diabetes, and 2 hyperthyroidism.