Evaluation of serum IgA levels in Iranian patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

An increased prevalence of immunoglobulin (Ig) A deficiency has been documented in a number of autoimmune diseases; however, its association with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) is a subject of debate. This study was performed to evaluate serum IgA levels in a group of pediatric patients with DM1. Three hundred patients with mean age of 12.6 ± 6.7 years were enrolled in this study. Serum IgA and other immunoglobulins levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay. Mean serum IgA level of patients was 271.0 ± 141.4 mg/dl. Only two patients had IgA deficiency (IgA < 10 mg/dl), who were two boys with ages of 9 and 10 years. Although associated autoimmune disorders were found in a number of patients with DM1, no other autoimmune disorder was detected in these two patients with IgA deficiency. Serum levels of all other immunoglobulins were normal. Serum IgA levels did not significantly differ by grouping the patients according to age variation, sex distribution, disease duration, and associated disorders. There was no significant correlation between IgA levels and hemoglobin A1c. This study showed the prevalence of IgA deficiency in Iranian patients with DM1 as 0.7% (1:150), which is much higher than reported prevalences in general populations. Further studies are needed for better understanding the possible etiologies of increased IgA deficiency in DM1 and its effects on diabetes control.