Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Immunoglobulin G subclass deficiency: Fact or fancy?

Immunoglobulin G subclass deficiency: Fact or fancy? Over the past four decades, many patients have been reported to have deficiencies of one or more subclasses of immunoglobulin G (IgG), despite normal total IgG serum concentrations. However, except for those with extremely low or absent IgG2 concentrations and an inability to produce antibodies to polysaccharide antigens, it is difficult to know the true biologic significance of the many reported IgG subclass deficiencies. Completely asymptomatic individuals who totally lack IgG1, IgG2, IgG4, or IgA1 because of heavy-chain gene deletions have been described as producing antibodies normally. In addition, numerous healthy children who have low levels of IgG2 but normal responses to polysaccharide antigens when immunized have been similarly described. From these observations, it can be concluded that IgG subclass measurement is not very helpful in the general assessment of immune function. Such assays provide no information about the patient’s capacity to produce specific antibodies to protein, polysaccharide, or viral antigens. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Current Allergy and Asthma Reports Springer Journals

Immunoglobulin G subclass deficiency: Fact or fancy?

Current Allergy and Asthma Reports , Volume 2 (5) – May 27, 2002

Loading next page...
 
/lp/springer-journals/immunoglobulin-g-subclass-deficiency-fact-or-fancy-zC9g45H6Be

References (51)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 by Current Science Inc.
Subject
Medicine & Public Health; Allergology; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Otorhinolaryngology; Infectious Diseases
ISSN
1529-7322
eISSN
1534-6315
DOI
10.1007/s11882-002-0067-1
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Over the past four decades, many patients have been reported to have deficiencies of one or more subclasses of immunoglobulin G (IgG), despite normal total IgG serum concentrations. However, except for those with extremely low or absent IgG2 concentrations and an inability to produce antibodies to polysaccharide antigens, it is difficult to know the true biologic significance of the many reported IgG subclass deficiencies. Completely asymptomatic individuals who totally lack IgG1, IgG2, IgG4, or IgA1 because of heavy-chain gene deletions have been described as producing antibodies normally. In addition, numerous healthy children who have low levels of IgG2 but normal responses to polysaccharide antigens when immunized have been similarly described. From these observations, it can be concluded that IgG subclass measurement is not very helpful in the general assessment of immune function. Such assays provide no information about the patient’s capacity to produce specific antibodies to protein, polysaccharide, or viral antigens.

Journal

Current Allergy and Asthma ReportsSpringer Journals

Published: May 27, 2002

There are no references for this article.