Prevalence of selective immunoglobulin A deficiency in Greek children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Background:The association of selective immunoglobulin A(IgA)deficiency with type 1 diabetes(T1D)remains unclear.This study was to evaluate serum IgA concentrations in Greek children and adolescents with T1D.Methods:In two hundred individuals with T1D,serum IgA concentrations were quantitatively determined using nephelometry.Results:Immunoglobulin A deficiency was detected in 6(3.0%)of 200 patients who were subjected to immunological evaluation.Recurrent infections were not recorded,but human papilloma virus infection was clinically suspected and confirmed by laboratory examination in a 5-year-old girl.In regard to coincidence of selective IgA deficiency with autoimmune diseases,celiac disease was detected in a girl and juvenile idiopathic arthritis in a boy.Serum IgA concentrations differed significantly when patients were grouped according to age at the beginning of the study(P<0.001),age at diagnosis of T1D(P=0.015)and coincidence of celiac disease(CD)(P=0.038).However,when the age of the patients was adjusted,difference in serum IgA concentrations was not statistically significant despite CD was present or not.Moreover,serum IgA concentrations were positively correlated with serum IgG(P<0.001)and IgE(P=0.001)concentrations and negatively correlated with serum antigliadin antibody IgG(P=0.035)concentrations.There was no association or correlation of serum IgA concentrations with glycemic control.Conclusion:The prevalence of selective IgA deficiency in Greek children and adolescents with T1D is high(3.0%).The correlation of serum IgA concentrations with serum IgG,IgE and anti-gliadin antibody IgG concentrations needs further investigation.