Selective immunoglobulin A deficiency: retrospective study

Abstract

The authors present a retrospectively study about 82 IgA deficient
patients (IgA < 5 mg/dl). They were submitted to clinical evaluation
and specific laboratorial testes. This evaluation was followed up
to 15 years (1992-2006). The objective of this work is to evaluate
the main clinical findings that suggest IgA-D and describe the complications observed.
The clinical manifestations in patients whit IgA-D were recurrent infections (31.7%), autoimmune diseases (25.6%), allergies
(24.3%), haematological diseases (6.9%), endocrinological diseases (4.87%) and oncological diseases (7.3%). The respiratory
system was the most affected by infections; systemic lupus
erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis were the most frequent
autoimmune diseases; eczema and rhinitis were the most frequent
allergic symptoms; gastric and colon adenocarcinoma were the
most frequent oncological diseases. Other disorders include
Hashimoto´s thyroiditis, Diabetes Mellitus type 1, and idiopathic
thrombocytopenia purpura, pernicious anemia and anaphylactic reaction blood products.
IgA-D has a large clinical spectrum and early diagnosis
would indicate prophylaxis in patients whit recurrent infections,
autoimmune diseases and allergies. Patients with SIgA are at
risk of developing a severe anaphylactic reaction upon receiving
IgA-containing blood and blood products