Evaluation of Humoral Immune Function in Patients with Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a chronic debilitating condition characterized by abnormal dilated thickwalledbronchi. to investigate humoral immune function in bronchiectatic patients, this studywas performed.forty patients with established diagnosis of bronchiectasis, who were referred from twotertiary care pulmonology centers in tehran, were investigated in this study. immunoglobulinisotypes concentrations and igg-subclasses were measured by nephelometry and enzymelinkedimmunosorbent assay (elisa) methods, respectively. all patients receivedunconjugated pneumococcal vaccine, and blood samples were taken before and 21 days aftervaccination. specific antibodies against whole pneumococcal antigens were measured usingthe elisa method.fifteen (37.5%) out of 40 patients were diagnosed to have defects in antibody mediatedimmunity including 5 (12.5%) patients with immunoglobulin class deficiency (2 withcommon variable immunodeficiency and 3 with iga deficiency), 3 (7.5%) with igg subclassdeficiency and 7 (17.5%) patients had specific antibody deficiency (sad) againstpolysaccharide antigen despite normal levels of serum immunoglobulins and igg subclasses.our study along with several other studies confirmed that all patients with bronchiectasisshould undergo thorough immunological evaluation in order to identify the presence of theunderlying immunologic defect. this evaluation should include serum immunoglobulins, iggsubclasses concentrations and also determination of serum antibodies against pneumococcalantigens. early diagnosis and appropriate treatment will prevent the subsequentcomplications and improve quality of life of affected individuals.