Evaluation of humoral immune function in patients with bronchiectasis.
Bronchiectasis is a chronic debilitating condition characterized by abnormal dilated thick-walled bronchi. To investigate humoral immune function in bronchiectatic patients, this study was performed. Forty patients with established diagnosis of bronchiectasis, who were referred from two tertiary care pulmonology centers in Tehran, were investigated in this study. Immunoglobulin isotypes concentrations and IgG-subclasses were measured by nephelometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods, respectively. All patients received unconjugated pneumococcal vaccine, and blood samples were taken before and 21 days after vaccination. Specific antibodies against whole pneumococcal antigens were measured using the ELISA method. Fifteen (37.5%) out of 40 patients were diagnosed to have defects in antibody mediated immunity including 5 (12.5%) patients with immunoglobulin class deficiency (2 with common variable immunodeficiency and 3 with IgA deficiency), 3 (7.5%) with IgG subclass deficiency and 7 (17.5%) patients had Specific antibody deficiency (SAD) against polysaccharide antigen despite normal levels of serum immunoglobulins and IgG subclasses. Our study along with several other studies confirmed that all patients with bronchiectasis should undergo thorough immunological evaluation in order to identify the presence of the underlying immunologic defect. This evaluation should include serum immunoglobulins, IgG subclasses concentrations and also determination of serum antibodies against pneumococcal antigens. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment will prevent the subsequent complications and improve quality of life of affected individuals.
Department of Infectious Diseases of Children's Medical Center Hospital, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Parviz
P
Tabatabaie
Asghar
A
Aghamohammadi
Setareh
S
Mamishi
Anna
A
Isaeian
Golnaz
G
Heidari
Sina
S
Abdollahzade
Pirouz
P
Pirouzi
Nima
N
Rezaei
Hassan
H
Heidarnazhad
Bahram
B
Mirsaeid Ghazi
Mehdi
M
Yeganeh
Taher
T
Cheraghi
Hasan
H
Abolhasani
Shiva
S
Saghafi
Houman
H
Alizadeh
Mohammad Reza
MR
Anaraki
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015166:Monitoring, Immunologic; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
C414006:23-valent pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide vaccine; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines