T-LYMPHOCYTES IN IgA DEFICIENCY

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and IgA deficiency (IgAD) are primary humoral immune deficiencies with a similar genetic background, but clinical and laboratory manifestation of CVID is much more severe than that of IgAD. The aim of this study was to determine whether some abnormalities in T-lymphocyte subsets or function observed in CVID are also present in IgAD patients. T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3 + , CD4 + , CD8 + , CD4 + CD45RA + , CD4 + CD45RO + and CD8 + CD57 + ) were studied in 61 adult IgAD patients and in 43 control, healthy subjects. In the IgAD patients, a significant decrease in CD4 + and an increase in CD8 + and CD8 + CD57 + lymphocytes were observed but no significant changes in the proportion of CD45RA + or CD45RO + in CD4 + cells were detected. No significant changes in lymphocyte proliferation after stimulation with Phytohaemagglutinin, Concanavalin-A or tetanic toxoid were observed in 15 adult IgAD patients compared to 15 controls. Our study showed that T-lymphocyte abnormalities were present in IgAD patients, although not to such a broad extent as in CVID.