IgG2 deficiency in sickle cell anaemia

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Abstract
8 patients with known sickle cell anaemia were studied immunologically. The concentrations of the main immunoglobulin classes, IgG and IgA, were significantly higher than the levels in 11 normal age‐ and sex‐matched black subjects (P < 0.01). IgM levels were not significantly different in the two groups. There was a heterogeneity in the interaction of the IgG subclasses with Protein A, with low levels of IgG2. The IgG2:IgG1 ratios varied from 1:3.8 to 1:6 (normals 1:3). In 4 patients the absolute levels of IgG2 as measured by radial immunodiffusion were lower than normal, thus confirming the chromatographic ratios. Since specific antibody is often restricted to a single subclass, the levels of IgG subclasses may be related to recurrent bacterial infections in these patients.