Objective: Immunoglobulin (Ig) A deficiency is a common immune system disorder which causes morbidity especially in preschool children. The aim of this study is to evaluate atopy and allergic diseases of cases with IgA deficiency, determinate clinical results before and after four years of age.

Materials and Methods: The data records of 295 children with IgA deficiency (272 partial, 23 selective IgA deficiency) between November 2001 and 2007 were examined retrospectively.

Results: The mean age at the diagnosis was 64.3 ± 43 (4-204) months, the mean age at the beginning of infection was 29.5 ± 36 (1-168) months. There were 121 patients under the age of four years at the diagnosis time. The clinical presentations were recurrent bronchitis (40%), tonsillitis/ pharyngitis (33%), sinusitis (6%), pneumonia (4%), acute otitis media (2%), acute gastroenteritis (0.3%) and neck abscess (0.3%), respectively. Eosinophilia was present in 25% of patients, increased IgE levels was present in 38% of patients, and they were correlated with each other. Atopy was detected in 31% of patients by spesific IgE and/or skin prick test positivity. Allergic disease prevalance was found as %78 (60% asthma, 15% allergic rhinitis, 8% atopic dermatitis, 6% urticaria, 0.7% allergic conjunctivitis). During the clinical followup IgA levels reached to normal levels at 17 ± 14 months ranged between 3 and 60 months. Three patients with selective IgA deficiency had bronchiectasia.

Conclusion: We found that allergic diseases were increased in these patients. Serum IgA level should be tested not only for recurrent infections but also for patients with allergic symptoms.