Prevalence of selective immunoglobulin A deficiency in healthy Turkish school children.

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Immunoglobulin A (IgA ) deficiency is the most common primary deficiency . We aimed to define the prevalence of IgA deficiency among healthy school children in Turkey and the differences between geographical regions . Blood samples were collected from 20 ,331 healthy school children from all regions across Turkey . The serum IgA levels were tested through nephelometric method , and all 108 samples with IgA levels lower than 5 g /L were tested through ELISA for IgG and IgM levels . All IgG and IgM values were within the normal range in all cases , and no concomitant deficiency was observed . Our study results showed that the selective IgA deficiency incidence was 0 .52 % (1 :188 ). The highest incidence , of 1 :128 .7 , was observed in children from the Marmara region ; the Black Sea Region levels (1 :132 .7 ) were lower , and the Mediterranean levels (1 :365 .7 ) were the lowest .