The first report on immunoglobulins A, E, G and M levels in cystic fibrosis patients in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND

Previous reports have shown that pulmonary and systemic hypergamma-globulinemia in CF patients is a reflection of chronic pulmonary infection. Infection with is known to have major prognostic significance in patients CF. This study aims to identify the incidence of immunoglobulins (especially: IgG, and IgE) in a cohort of CF patients.

METHODS

A total of 297 patients recruited all over the country's region for this study were a as part of the CF registry data from 1st January 1984 to 1st June 2016. All patients had their immunoglobulin levels measured by enzyme link immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 3 stages, at presentation and two follow-ups.

RESULTS

Of the 297 patients recruited, 139 (46.8%) were males while 158 (53.2%) were females. IgA and IgM levels were found not to have risen above the previously reported levels in healthy individuals in all stages. On the contrary, IgE level increased from 209.51 ± 32.30 KU/L to 303.58 ± 37.11 KU/L from baseline to stage 3 while IgG level rose from 12.26 ± 0.43 mg/mL to 17.17 ± 1.68 mg/mL for baseline and stage 3 respectively all above previously reported levels in healthy individuals.

CONCLUSION

This study establishes a potential for the use of IgE and IgG in disease diagnosis as well as the prognostic implications. However, further study is needed to identify the role of infection or medications in relation to the rise of both IgE and IgG with advancement of age and progression of disease severity which may inherently confound the observed results.