The Significance of Immunoglobulins in Cystic Fibrosis: Normal or High?

Abstract

Aim:Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by local and chronic inflammation accompanied by increased neutrophil and macrophage counts, high elastase levels, and inflammatory cytokines due to impaired haemostasis. Changes in immunoglobulin (Ig) levels may occur due to recurrent chronic infections and may be associated with the deterioration of respiratory functions. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the interaction of high Ig levels with respiratory functions and chronic infections in CF.Materials and Methods:The diagnosis of the patients CF was made in accordance with the “National CF Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines”. The socio-demographic characteristics, Ig values, and the pulmonary function tests were evaluated according to age group.Results:A total of 107 patients were included in this study. The patients’ median age was 65 (6-200) months. It was found that those patients with high IgG (p=0.01) and IgA (p<0.001) values had more moderate-to-severe respiratory function than those with normal values. Also, there was no statistically significant difference when the patients were compared for P. aeruginosa colonization using IgG levels (p=0.51), IgA levels (p=0.16) and IgM levels (p=0.34).Conclusion:Elevated IgG and IgA levels in patients with CF may be an indirect indicator of deterioration in pulmonary function tests. There was no significant difference in IgG, IgA, and IgM levels for P. aeruginosa colonization. We recommend that the results of our study be supported by cohort studies.

Keywords

• cystic fibrosis
• immunoglobulins
• chronic inflammation
• respiratory functions