IGA DEFICIENCY AND RECURRENT RESPIRATORY MANIFESTATIONS IN CHILDREN BASED ON A SERIES OF 75 CASES

Seventy-five cases of major serum IgA deficiency were observed over a 20-year period. The clinical presentation essentially consists of recu rrent infectious disease (ENT or bronchial). Asthma was observed in 25 cases, associated with atopic allergy in 15 cases. Two cases of coeli ac disease were observed. Aspects suggestive of a genetic lesion were detected in several cases: familial cases, congenital heart disease, g enetic bone diseases. A concomitant salivary IgA and secretory element deficiency was usually observed, with few deficiencies of IgG subclas ses. The IgA level returned to normal between the ages of 10 and 16 ye ars in seven children.