Mohammed Said Al-Balushi; Elias Anthony Said; Sidgi Syed Hasson; Juma Zaid Al-Busaidi; Iman Al-Reesi; Mohammed Idris; Wadha Al-Ghafri; Moza Al-Kalbani; Ali Abdullah Al-Jabri
Volume 13, Issue 2 , Spring 2016, , Pages 114-123
Abstract
Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), is a common infection in pregnant women accompanied by variations in the levels of the IgM, IgA and IgG antibody isotypes. The variations of anti-H. pylori antibodies during and after pregnancy, and the extent of protection they provide to the mother and the ...
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Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), is a common infection in pregnant women accompanied by variations in the levels of the IgM, IgA and IgG antibody isotypes. The variations of anti-H. pylori antibodies during and after pregnancy, and the extent of protection they provide to the mother and the fetus are not completely understood. Objectives: To investigate the changes of the anti-H. pylori IgM, IgA and IgG levels in healthy Omani pregnant women during pregnancy and 3 months after delivery. Methods: Serum samples obtained from 70 Omani healthy pregnant women, with no history of autoimmune diseases, were tested for anti-H. pylori IgM, IgA and IgG in the first trimester of pregnancy and 3 months after delivery. In parallel and as a control group, sera obtained from a group of 70 healthy non-pregnant Omani women were tested. The levels of anti-H. pylori IgM, IgA and IgG were measured using standard Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs). Results: Anti-H. pylori IgA levels were found to be significantly higher during pregnancy (p=0.046) and after delivery (p=0.02) when compared to the control group. Moreover, a significant increase in the levels of anti-H. pylori IgM, IgA and IgG was detected after delivery (p=0.002) when compared to the levels during pregnancy. Conclusion: Pregnancy is associated with an increase in the levels of anti-H. pylori IgA antibodies. In addition, anti-H. pylori IgM, IgG and IgA antibody levels increase after delivery.
Marco Di Tola; Mariacatia Marino; Rossella Casale; Marta Puzzono; Caterina Urciuoli; Antonio Picarelli
Volume 12, Issue 1 , Winter 2015, , Pages 74-80
Abstract
Background: Celiac disease is a common autoimmune disorder that is diagnosed based on clinical case identification, serological screening, and duodenal histology. However, the existence of mild clinical forms, such as seronegative cases with patchy atrophy and potential celiac disease, can make it difficult ...
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Background: Celiac disease is a common autoimmune disorder that is diagnosed based on clinical case identification, serological screening, and duodenal histology. However, the existence of mild clinical forms, such as seronegative cases with patchy atrophy and potential celiac disease, can make it difficult to determine a definitive diagnosis. The seronegative patients with celiac disease can include those with discordant antibody results and false-negative results, due to unknown origins or selective IgA deficiency. Case presentation: We present two cases with discordant antibody results in order to evaluate if the simultaneous detection of specific antibodies can improve the serodiagnosis of celiac disease. In both patients, the simultaneous detection of IgA/IgG anti-tissue transglutaminase/deamidated gliadin peptides gave discordant positive results by the same antibodies assayed individually. Conclusion: Although further studies are needed to confirm and extend our findings, the simultaneous detection of specific antibodies seems to improve the serodiagnosis of celiac disease in patients with discordant antibody results.
Hossein Ali Khazaei; Alireza Nakhaei; Golam Ali Dashti; Mehdi Mohammadi; Fariba Hejazenia; Noura Mehrangeez; Amin Khazaei
Volume 9, Issue 4 , Autumn 2012, , Pages 254-260
Abstract
Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an allergic disorder of the nasal tissue that underlies diseases such as sinusitis, otits and asthma. Different predisposing factors including immunological and non-immunological factors contribute to the disease pathogenesis. Objective: To investigate association ...
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Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an allergic disorder of the nasal tissue that underlies diseases such as sinusitis, otits and asthma. Different predisposing factors including immunological and non-immunological factors contribute to the disease pathogenesis. Objective: To investigate association of haptoglobin (Hp) phenotypes (Hp1-1, 2-1 and 2-2) with serum immunoglobulins A and E levels in patients suffering from AR in comparison with healthy individuals. Methods: Two hundred and forty patients and 240 healthy individual entered in this case-control study. Serum levels of IgE and IgA were measured and haptoglobulin phenotypes were determined by electrophoresis. The results were evaluated by χ2 statistical test using SPSS software. Results: Serum electrophoresis showed that the distribution of haptoglobin phenotypes of Hp1-1, Hp2-1 and Hp2-2 among 240 patients were 11.3%, 37.9% and 50.8%, respectively. The distribution of different haptoglobin phenotypes in healthy controls were 88.7%, 36.6% and 54.7%, respectively. However, the difference between patients and controls was not statistically significant (p=0.136). The mean of IgE level was significantly higher in patients than controls in association with all three phenotypes (p<0.001). Mean of IgA serum level was also significantly different between case and control groups for Hp1-1 (p<0.048) and Hp2-2 phenotypes (p<0.027). Conclusion: We conclude that there is an association of all three haptoglobin phenotypes with IgE level. Hp1-1 and Hp2-2 phenotypes showed association with IgA in allergic rhinitis, as well. However, we cannot solely attribute these associations to the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis.
Abolhassan Faramarzi; Azra Shamsdin; Abbas Ghaderi
Volume 3, Issue 4 , Autumn 2006, , Pages 187-191
Abstract
Background: Tonsils and adenoids are involved in both local immunity and immune surveillance for the development of immune defense mechanisms. A number of investigators have found decreased immunoglobulin levels after adenotonsillectomy while others have failed to find significant changes. The effects ...
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Background: Tonsils and adenoids are involved in both local immunity and immune surveillance for the development of immune defense mechanisms. A number of investigators have found decreased immunoglobulin levels after adenotonsillectomy while others have failed to find significant changes. The effects of adenotonsillectomy on the cellular immunity of children have not been investigated extensively. Objective: To observe the change in humeral and cellular immune systems before and after operation in patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy. Methods: The study comprised 102 patients; all of the patients underwent adenotonsillectomy. The levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM were measured for humoral immunity and the percent of CD7 and CD19 positive cells were determined in blood samples taken from these patients 24 hours before operation and also 2 and 8 weeks after the operation. The results were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: The present study shows that the serum level of IgA would rise few weeks after the operation. Changes in the IgM and IgG level were not statistically significant postoperatively. In addition, no significant change was detected in B lymphocyte count before and after adenotonsillectomy. In our study, there was a slight decrease in the T lymphocyte count in the early stage of post operation, which returned to normal preoperative value after 8 weeks . Conclusion: Several immune system parameters maintain its normal status several weeks after adenotonsillectomy.
Mansour Rahimi; Morteza Najafi
Volume 3, Issue 2 , Spring 2006, , Pages 91-94
Abstract
Background: Idiopathic anterior uveitis is an anterior segment inflammation in which a detailed medical history, general and ocular physical examination is not associated with any defined clinical syndrome. Alterations in immune system parameters have been reported in patients with idiopathic posterior ...
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Background: Idiopathic anterior uveitis is an anterior segment inflammation in which a detailed medical history, general and ocular physical examination is not associated with any defined clinical syndrome. Alterations in immune system parameters have been reported in patients with idiopathic posterior uveitis; however no data on the role of immune system in idiopathic anterior uveitis has yet been reported. In this study the immune system function in patients with idiopathic anterior uveitis was evaluated. Objective: To evaluate the immune system function in patients with idiopathic non-infectious anterior uveitis. Methods: 51 patients with anterior uveitis, 32 women (62.7%) and 19 men (37.3%), participated in this study. Intensity of intraocular inflammation was scored according to standard uveitis grading system. In all cases, serum levels of immunoglobulins A, G, M and E, C3 and C4 complement components, and autoantibodies against ds-DNA and ACLA, were measured using ELISA method. Results: 49 patients out of 51 (96%) showed altered serum levels of immunological parameters, compared with normal values. Changes in serum immunoglobulin concentration were present in 44 patients, with increased IgA levels being the most common. Serum values of C3 and C4 complement proteins were also increased in 29 subjects. ds-DNA autoantibody was positive in 15 and equivocal in 19 cases. ACLA was positive and equivocal in 3 and 9 patients, respectively. Conclusion: Immune abnormalities found in serum of 49 patients with idiopathic anterior uveitis may play a role in the pathogenesis of this disorder.
Ahmad Amin; Susan Jalali; Reza Amin; Soheila Aale-yasin; Nima Jamalian; Mehran Karimi
Volume 2, Issue 4 , Autumn 2005, , Pages 220-225
Abstract
Background: Beta-thalassemia major is one of the major health problems in our country. Many studies have confirmed the fact that, these patients have an increased susceptibility to bacterial infections. Objective: In this study, we have assessed the humoral immune system in 68 thalassemic patients by ...
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Background: Beta-thalassemia major is one of the major health problems in our country. Many studies have confirmed the fact that, these patients have an increased susceptibility to bacterial infections. Objective: In this study, we have assessed the humoral immune system in 68 thalassemic patients by measuring their serum concentration of Immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, IgA, C3 and C4 in order to find out a responsible immune defect. Methods: Sixty eight b-thalassemia major patients were enrolled randomly from referrals to Dastgheib clinic of thalassemia. The same number of case controls with matched age and sex were selected from healthy people without any history of recent or recurrent infections. Serum IgG, IgM, IgA, C3 and C4 levels were assessed using Single Radial Immunodiffusion (SRID). Results: Serum levels of IgG, IgM & IgA were significantly higher (P<0.01) and those of C3 and C4 were significantly lower (P<0.01) in thalassemic patients than the controls. Considering the result of analytic tests, it was revealed that, thalassemia patients show much more increase in serum immunoglobulin levels as they get older. Splenectomized patients had higher serum IgG and IgA levels than non-splenectomized patients but had no difference in serum IgM, C3 and C4. Serum ferritin level had no correlation with the changes of humoral immunity; however, patients with serum ferritin level >2500ng/ml had higher serum IgM level. Conclusion: These results can be due to continuous exposure to antigens, repeated infections, chronic liver disease and splenectomy but not iron overload. The only probable cause of humoral immune deficiency found in these patients is a defect in serum complement levels.