Allergic Rhinitis and Other Allergic and Autoimmune Disorders in Children with IgA Deficiency

Abstract

Background: Selective IgA imunodeficiency is the most frequently occurring primary antibody deficiency. Serum IgA level is decreased or even completly absened, while IgM and IgG antibodies displey normal serum levels. IgA plays an important role in immune protection in the gastrointestinal and respiratory tract. Patients with selective IgA imunodeficiency can be asimptomatic (>50% of cases) and can suffer from recurrent gastointestinal and respiratory infecitions, allergies and autoimmune diseases. Allergic rhinitis (AR) is the most common cause of chronic rhinitis. Characteristic feature of allergic rhinitis is eosinophilic inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Several studied have shown that IgA represents a potent trigger of eosinophil degranulation, while other studies have shown that IgA imunodeficiency is a well-known risk factor for atopy. Objective: Objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of allergic rhinitis and other allergic and autoimmune disorders in children with IgA immunodeficiency. Methods: The study included 36 children diagnosed with IgA imunodeficiency. The presence of allergic and autoimmune disorders was evaluated by specialist of allergology, immunology, rheumatology and otorhinolaryngology. Results: 22 (71,1%) of children were male and the mean age of the patients was 10.5 years. Among the patients 31 (86,11%) had at least one allergic disease: 20 (55,55%) had asthma, 17 (47,22%) had allergic rhinitis, 6 (16,67%) had atopic dermatitis and 5 (13,89%) had urticaria. 14 (38,89%) had at least one of autoimmune disordes: 8 (22,22%) had reactive arthritis, 5 (13,89%) had juvenile idiopathic arthritis, 2 (5,56%) had Mb Hashimoto and 1 (2,78%) had SLE. Conclusion: This study showed that the main clinical manifestations in patients with IgA deficiency were asthma and allergic rhinitis. Results also show increased frequencies in other allergic and autoimmune diseases, compared to available data from general population.