title: Familial selective IgA deficiency with circulating anti-IgA antibodies: a distinct group of patients?
abstract: Two families were investigated in which the mothers had selective IgA deficiency and circulating class-specific anti-IgA antibodies. Both gave birth to two children who were found to be IgA deficient. Three of these children developed anti-IgA antibodies before puberty. In vitro immunoglobulin production studies performed in the children of both families revealed an IgA B cell defect combined with IgA-specific excessive T suppressor function in all four. The mechanisms by which transplacental passage of maternal anti-IgA antibodies could have interfered with the developing IgA system in the offspring are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: de Laat
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Weemaes
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bakkeren
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: van den Brandt
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: van Lith
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Graaf
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van Munster
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Stoelinga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000032:analysis*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002648:Child; D004406:Dysgammaglobulinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017098:IgA Deficiency; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; C049937:anti-IgA