Serum IgA and IgM levels in hemochromatosis probands with HFE p.C282Y homozygosity

by James C. Barton, J.

Clayborn Barton, Luigi F. Bertoli, Ronald T.

Acton Background HFE p.C282Y (rs1800562) homozygotes, including those with normal iron phenotypes, have increased risks of infection and death from infections, although serum IgA and IgM in cohorts of adults with p.C282Y homozygosity are not reported. Methods We compiled serum IgA and IgM levels at diagnosis of hemochromatosis in probands with p.C282Y homozygosity, investigated associations of IgA and IgM with clinical characteristics, blood count measures, and iron phenotypes, and compared mean IgA and IgM of probands with combined/weighted means of published adult European cohorts not selected for hemochromatosis.

Results There were 73 probands (36 men, 37 women; mean age 51 ± 13 y). Fifty probands (68.5%) had human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*03.

Mean IgA ± standard deviation [95% confidence interval] was 2.11 ± 1.06 g/L [1.87, 2.35]. Mean IgM was 1.11 ± 0.75 g/L [0.94, 1.28].

IgM was inversely associated with age (Pearson’s r 73 = –0.2733; p = 0.019). A multiple regression on IgA revealed no significant association with other characteristics.