HIGH SERUM IGA CONCENTRATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES-MELLITUS - AGEWISE DISTRIBUTION AND RELATION TO CHRONIC COMPLICATIONS

In this study we investigated the agewise distributions of serum IgA c oncentrations in 1251 type 1 and 2224 type 2 diabetic patients, and th e association between serum IgA concentration and diabetic complicatio ns (retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, macroangiopathy, and hyperte nsion). The IgA concentrations of all groups of diabetic patients were significantly higher than those of the corresponding subgroups of 943 control subjects, except for type 1 patients >60 years of age, High I gA concentrations were found in 23.1% of the whole diabetic group. The prevalence of high IgA was significantly greater in males than in fem ales among type 1 patients (24.4% vs 18%), In conclusion, an increase in circulating IgA concentrations is a generalized phenomenon among di abetic patients; IgA concentrations above the reference range are more common among male than female diabetics; and diabetic complications a re associated with a significant increase in serum IgA concentration.