title: Reappraisal of the clinical and etiologic significance of immunoglobulin deviations in autoimmune hemolytic anemia ('warm type').
abstract: 56 patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia ('warm type') (AIHA) were investigated for immunoglobulin deviations. Of these, 43 were repeatedly analyzed (mean 4 times). The mean observation time was 20 months. The immunoglobulin values were correlated with clinical (degree of hemolysis) and serological (immunoglobulin class of autoantibodies; strength of antiglobulin reaction) parameters and statistically evaluated by variance analysis. Although no significant deviations of immunoglobulins in AIHA were found as compared to a normal control group, the immunoglobulin disturbance most frequently seen was an elevation of IgM. This is interpreted as a possible lack or functional impairment of immunoregulatory T cells in AIHA.
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins