[CIS-PAGID] Challenging case: hypogammaglobulinemia and hypocomplementemia

[Verbsky, James]

With low complements and low IgG but with normal IGA/M..I would think about protein loss.  Any GI disease, PLE, heart failure, etc?? Have seen low complements with autoimmune enteropathy and presumed protein loss, but was pretty severe (Alb of 1.8).

Im not sure I would reflexively give her IVIG without any infections, but might be interesting to see what others would do in this case?

Best

James



James W. Verbsky MD/PhD
Associate Professor of Pediatric,s and Medical Microbiology and Genetics
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, WI  53211
jverbsky at mcw.edu<mailto:jverbsky at mcw.edu>
414-266-6701 (phone)
414-266-6695 (fax)


From: pagid-bounces at list.clinimmsoc.org [mailto:pagid-bounces at list.clinimmsoc.org] On Behalf Of Zachary D. Jacobs, MD
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2011 9:38 AM
To: pagid at list.clinimmsoc.org
Subject: [CIS-PAGID] Challenging case: hypogammaglobulinemia and hypocomplementemia

Hello,

I am a (relatively) young immunologist just out of training and am hoping that I could garner some helpful suggestions from this incredibly adept and intelligent community for what I feel is a challenging case.

I recently saw a 68 year-old woman referred by rheumatology for a low IgG level found incidentally.  She was seen initially by the rheumatologist for evaluation of neck pain and intermittent fatigue along with painful hands.  Her cervical spine showed degenerative changes on X-ray.  Her diagnosis was osteoarthritis of the cervical spine and hands.  In the course of her work-up for rheumatologic conditions, her IgG was found to be 351 mg/dl and she was sent to me for evaluation.

As far as her infectious history, it is for all intents and purposes nonexistent.  She has not had pneumonia since childhood.  She does not have issues with recurrent or chronic sinusitis and does not have a history of sinus surgery.  She does not have a history of invasive infections, admission for infections, recurrent soft tissue infections, or urinary tract infections.  She does relate that she takes a little longer to get over "colds."  She does not have chronic diarrhea or foamy urine.  Her exam to me was unremarkable.

Meds:  Naprosyn prn, omeprazole, multi-vitamin, vitD

No chronic medical illness or hospitalizations, family history is negative for autoimmunity and immune deficiency.

The following is her laboratory evaluation with some labs performed twice:  Boldfaced type equals abnormal findings.

*        CBC: Hgb 12.7, Hct 37, Plt 208 - normal

*        WBC: 7700 (PMN 78.5%, L 16.1%, Eos 1%) - normal

*        Liver transaminases, LDH, uric acid, serum chemistries and renal function normal

*        Urinalysis: Normal, no blood or protein, microscopy normal

*        Anti-CCP antibody: 2 (0-30)

*        IgG: Two occasions, 351 and 214 mg/dl (614-1286)

*        IgA: 72 and 106 mg/dl (87-474)

*        IgM 134 and 291 mg/dl (52-330)

*        Serum electrophoresis: Minimal monoclonal IgM lamda at approx. 0.2 g/dl, thought to be of no significance

*        Tetanus Ab: 0.51 (nl > 0.1)

*        Pneumococcal serotypes: All 12 tested were under <1.3 u/ml (highest was 0.9, most of them undetectable at < 0.3).  Repeated 6 weeks post-Pneumovax and no change in any of the serotypes.

*        CRP: 23, mildly elevated (0-10 normal)

*        ESR: 1

*        CH50: < 3 (repeated twice, normal 30-75)

*        C3: 62 (83-172)

*        C4: 6 (18-51)

*        Flow cytometry: Normal

o   ALC: 1300

o   CD4: 53% (absolute 689)

o   CD8: 27% (absolute 351)

o   CD4:CD8: 2.0

o   CD16/56: 20% (absolute 260)

o   CD19: 5% (absolute 65)

Even without a pattern of recurrent infections, my thinking is that she warrants IgG replacement therapy given the low IgG and completely absent specific antibody response to Pneumovax.  I have failed to find anything in the literature to this point concerning the concurrence of hypocomplementemia and hypogammaglobulinemia.  My feeling is that they should represent the same etiology as opposed to having two separate and rare etiologies.  Any thoughts on further work-up, therapy, and possible diagnoses would be greatly appreciated.  I have given thought towards sending complement degradation products to determine production vs. consumption but have never ordered this lab before.

Thank you so much for any help provided with this case.

Zach

--
Zachary D. Jacobs, M.D.

The Center for Allergy & Immunology

St. Luke's Physician Partners
Medical Plaza II
4330 Wornall, Suite 40
Kansas City, MO 64111

Ph: 816.531.0930<tel:816.531.0930>
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