Introduction:

Predominant antibody deficiencies (PAD) present with decreased serum levels of immunoglobulins (hypogammaglobulinemia), recurrent infections and their association with allergies has been reported. Information on its frequency in allergic children is limited and in Paraguay there are no data in this regard.

Objective:

To detect PAD and establish its frequency in pediatric patients with allergic diseases treated at a reference hospital in the country.

Materials and methods:

64 pediatric patients (1 to 17 years of age) with a diagnosis of allergy, treated in the Pediatric Outpatient Unidad Pediátrica Ambulatoria-Especialidad Asma of the Hospital de Clínicas (from 2018 to 2019) were evaluated. Serum levels of IgA, IgG and IgM were measured by the radial immunodiffusion method and phenotypic diagnostic criteria were applied to hypogammaglobulinemia cases to define PAD.

Results:

The median age was 5 years (IQR: 2 - 8), with a predominance of males (58%). The most frequent allergies were asthma (38%) and rhinitis (34%), and recurrent respiratory infections (80%) predominated. The frequency of PAD was 17% (11/64), with 6 cases of immunoglobulin A deficiency detected, 4 isolated IgG deficiencies and a common variable immunodeficiency were also detected. No significant differences were observed when comparing clinical-demographic characteristics between allergic patients with and without PAD. Conclusions: The frequency of PAD was high, so we suggest considering serum immunoglobulins studies in pediatric patients with allergic diseases for timely detection and treatment.

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