IgG and IgA levels are found to be elevated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in several studies. In this study, we measured the immunoglobulin levels of the patients with SLE in both activation and remission periods, and tried to determine if the IgA levels can be used as an activity criterion. We also tried to determine the rate of the selective IgA deficiency in a large population of SLE patients and correlation of these findings with other laboratory and clinical parameters.
The findings from these patients with SLE suggest that: 1) IgG and IgA levels are elevated in activation periods. 2) IgG levels remains elevated in remission periods. 3) Elevation IgG levels could be a indicator of activity of SLE, but since it remains elevated in remission periods, standardization could not be possible. 4) Elevation of IgA levels could not be an activation criterion.
Also, the selective IgA deficiency was seen 1.76% of the SLE patients with activation and 2.15% of the SLE patients in remission period. There was no negative or positive correlation between the selective IgA deficiency and renal involvement, or other laboratory and clinical parameters
Key Words: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Immunoglobulin A (IgA), Immunoglobulin G (IgG)
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