Objective: Primary immune deficiencies are suggested to be associated with high incidence of allergic, autoimmune, hematological, and malignant disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of allergic disorders in children with antibody deficiency.
Materials and Methods: Ninety-three patients diagnosed as antibody deficiency in a one-year period were included in this study. Their ages and accompanying allergic disorders and allergic disorders in their families were evaluated retrospectively. Serum total IgE levels and serum allergen specific IgE panels of patients were obtained, and allergen skin testing (prick test) was performed.
Results: 63.4% of the patients were male and the mean age was 6.4 ± 2.7 years. IgA deficiency was present in 53.8% of the patients followed by IgG subclass deficiency (15.1%), IgG and IgA subclass deficiencies (21.5%), and others (9.7%). Accompanying allergic disorders were asthma (44.1%), asthma and allergic rhinitis (9.7%), allergic skin diseases (7.5%), and allergic rhinitis (3.2%). The most common immunologic disease associated with allergic disorders was found to be IgG subclass deficiencies (92.4%). According to allergen skin testing, 44.1% of patients were atopic while 55.9% were non-atopic, and atopy frequency was 46% in IgA deficiency, 35.7% in IgG subclass deficiencies , and 35% in IgA and IgG subclass deficiencies.
Conclusion: The high incidence of allergic diseases in antibody deficiency suggests that immunological evaluation of allergic patients can lead to early diagnoses of immune deficiencies.