ASSOCIATION OF AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASES AND ANTI-IGA ANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH SELECTIVE IGA DEFICIENCY

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 37  (1) , 83-88
Abstract
The prevalence of antibodies to immunoglobulin(Ig)A was studied in 83 subjects with selective IgA deficiency (SIgAD), 33 normal individuals, 32 children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and normal or elevated IgA, 17 children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and normal or elevated IgA, and 13 patients with hypogammaglobulinemia. Anti-IgA antibodies were detected by hemagglutination of human erythrocytes coated with 1 of 2 IgA myelomas by the chromic chloride technique. Antibodies to IgA were not found in significant titer in individuals with normal or elevated IgA or in those with hypogammaglobulinemia. In IgA deficient patients, elevated titers were found in 25-30% of those who were healthy or who had non-rheumatic diseases, 50% with rheumatoid arthritis, 77% with JRA and 100% with SLE. Patients with rheumatic diseases and SIgAD may be particularly at risk of developing anti-IgA-mediated reactions to blood products.