Relationship between serum immunoglobulin levels and disease progression in children with hand, foot and mouth disease

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum immunoglobulin levels and disease progression in mild and severe children with hand, foot and mouth disease(HFMD). Methods A total of 369 HFMD children, admitted to our hospital during Jun. 2013, were divided into a mild group(n=259) and a severe group(n=110). Thirty healthy children receiving physical examination were selected as controls. Immune turbidimetry assay was used to detect the levels of serum IgA, IgG, IgM, C3 and C4.Serum immunoglobulin levels were compared among the mild group, the severe group and the control group, and between the severe children with enterovirus 71(EV71) and without EV71 infection, and between the severe children with coxsackievirus A16(CoxA16)and EV71 infection. Results As compared with the control group, the levels of IgG, IgA and IgM of the severe group and the level of IgM of the mild group increased significantly. As compared with the mild HFMD group, the levels of IgG and IgA of severe HFMD group increased significantly. The level of IgM of the severe children with EV71 infection was significantly higher than that of the severe children without EV71 infection, and the levels of IgG and IgA of the severe children with EV71 infection were significantly higher than those of the severe children with CoxA16 infection. The levels of C3 and C4 were not significantly different among the groups. Conclusion Serum immunoglobulin levels of HFMD children change, and they change significantly with disease progression. The levels of the severe HFMD children are significantly higher than those of the mild HFMD children. The levels of the severe children with EV71 infection change more significantly than those of the severe children with CoxA16 infection.