Effects of serial plasmapheresis on serum IgA levels in IgA-deficient blood donors with IgA-suppressor T cells.
Seventeen IgA-deficient blood donors, without antibodies to IgA, underwent plasmapheresis four to eight consecutive times at intervals of 8 weeks or less to provide fresh-frozen plasma for patients with anti-IgA. Blood samples, drawn for analysis no more than 1 hour before plasmapheresis and again at the conclusion of each procedure, were analyzed for lymphocyte subpopulations and serum IgA levels. Five lymphocyte subpopulations, including natural killer cells, the suppressor-inducer CD4 subset, the suppressor-precursor CD8 subset, non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted cytotoxic T cells, and CD5+ B cells, were all decreased significantly after plasmapheresis (p less than 0.05). In a subgroup of IgA-deficient donors with excessive IgA-suppressor T-cell activity, serum IgA increased to levels exceeding 0.05 g per L following the fourth consecutive plasmapheresis procedure. Serum IgA levels did not similarly increase in IgA-deficient donors without excessive IgA-suppressor T-cell activity or in controls without IgA deficiency. Our study shows the potential, in a subpopulation of IgA-deficient donors who undergo frequent plasmapheresis, for a transient increase in serum IgA to a level no longer considered IgA deficient.
Paglieroni
T G
TG
Sacramento Medical Foundation Center for Blood Research, California.
Holland
P V
PV
D000917:Antibody Formation; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D004406:Dysgammaglobulinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D017098:IgA Deficiency; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M