Growth Retardation in Children with IgA Deficiency

Abstract

We evaluated the clinical and immunological manifestations of 14 children with IgA deficiency. Four of the patients were asymptomatic, and ten were symptomatic, with recurrent sinopulmonary infections, allergic disease, recurrent intestinal giardiasis or celiac disease. Growth retardation was the second important feature in our patients. One of the seven patients with growth retardation had partial growth hormone deficiency. The levels of serum IgG and IgM were high in five and three patients, respectively. Cellular immunity was normal.