Clinical relevance of immunoglobulin A deficiency in celiac disease

BACKGROUND: TO determine the prevalence of the IgA deficiency in patients w ith celiac disease and its influence on the presentation and evolution of c eliac disease. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 47 patients with clinical and histological diagnosis o f celiac disease were included. Seric immunoglobulin levels were determined in all patients. RESULTS: Five patients presented a low level of IgA (IgA-deficient group) a nd 42 patients presented normal levels (non-IgA-deficient group). The age a nd the relation male/female were similar between both groups. Presentation, clinical manifestations, analytic data of intestinal malabsorption, and th e radiologic pattern were also similar between both groups of patients. The re were bronchiectasies in two out of 5 IgA-deficient patients and in only one out of 42 non-IgA-deficient patients (p < 0.05). None of the IgA-defici ent group showed complications due to the celiac disease, meanwhile 3 non-I gA deficient patients developed intestinal lymphoma (p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: The IgA deficiency is frequently associated to celiac disease. This association does not seem to influence in a significant way the prese ntation or the evolution of celiac disease.