title: Clinical significance of hyper-IgA in a paediatric laboratory series.
abstract: The causes of extremely elevated IgA, whether isolated or associated with an increase in other classes of immunoglobulin, are poorly defined in paediatrics. We reviewed the diagnostic significance of very high IgA levels (greater than 3 SD above the mean for age) in a cohort of patients referred to a tertiary care children's hospital. Hyper-IgA was found in 91 of 6364 subjects (1.4%) and in 68 cases was not associated with an increased IgG and/or IgM level. Most subjects with hyper-IgA (73.5%) had a severe immune defect, a chronic rheumatic disease or inflammatory bowel disease, while these conditions were very rare in a control group with normal IgA values (8%). Although our results may in part reflect the experience of a tertiary care centre, we suggest that hyper-IgA in children should always arouse suspicion of a serious disease.
authors: University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Copetti
authors: University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy Institute of Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy.
authors: Serena
authors: S
authors: Pastore
authors: Institute of Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy.
authors: Carlo
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3138-3070
authors: C
authors: De Pieri
authors: Department of Advanced Diagnostic and Clinical Trials, Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy.
authors: Oriano
authors: O
authors: Radillo
authors: University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy Institute of Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Taddio
authors: University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy Institute of Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Ventura
authors: Institute of Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy.
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Tommasini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A
keywords: General Paediatrics; Immunology; Paediatric Practice