Assessment of Humoral Immunity of Patients with ?- Thalassemia

Abstract

Background: Infectious complications form an important cause for morbidity and mortality in thalassemia patients. Many studies tried to investigate any possible defect or change in immune state that can be responsible for increase susceptibility to infections in these patients. Objective: To assess the humoral immunity in thalassemia patients and evaluate its possible role in high rate of infections in these patients. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 34 β-thalassemia patients and 10 control case in period from first of March to end of May of 2015 in Wasit Provenance in Iraq. Results: Mean serum level of IgM was significantly higher in patients than control only in age group ≥ 15 years. However, it did not reach the significant level in age group ˂ 15 years. Mean serum level of C3, C4, IgG, and IgA did not show significant difference between patients and control in both age groups. Iron overload appeared to have no role on humoral immunity of our patients. Conclusion: Although our study did not show significant change in humoral immunity, the study of complement and immunoglobulin level can be useful in evaluating the function of immune system and explaining the high rate of infection in thalassemia patients.