J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol.  2005 Oct;9(2):143-148.

The Levels of IgG Subclasses and Vaccine-induced Viral Antibodies in Childhood Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome

• Song YH
• Lee KY
• Kim DU
• Koh DK
• Lee BC

Abstract

PURPOSE: Hypogammaglobulinemia has been observed in nephrotic syndrome, but its pathophysiology remains unknown. We evaluated serum immunoglobulins, IgG subclasses, and vaccine-induced viral antibodies(anti-hepatitis B surface IgG and anti-measles IgG) in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome(MCNS).
METHODS
Using the stored sera, the levels of immunoglobulin(IgG, IgM, IgA, and IgE) and IgG subclasses(IgG 1, 2, 3, and 4), anti-HBs Ab and anti-measles IgG of 21 children with MCNS were analyzed and compared to those of 25 age-matched healthy children.
RESULTS
The mean values of IgG and IgG1 were 390+/-187 mg/dL and 287+/-120 mg/dL in nephrotic children, and 1,025+/-284 mg/dL and 785+/-19 mg/dL in control children, respectively. The values of the total IgG and the 4 IgG subclasses in nephrotic children were all significantly depressed(P<0.001), but the IgM(251+/-183 mg/dL vs. 153+/-55 mg/dL, P=0.02) and IgE values(P=0.01) were elevated, and the IgA values were not changed. The seropositivity of anti-HBs IgG was 42.9%(9 of 21 cases) in the MCNS group and 52%(13/25) in the control group, and that of anti-measles IgG was 76%(16/21) and 92%(23/25), respectively, but there was no statistical difference between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
IgG and IgG subclass levels in MCNS children are all depressed without significant seronegativity of the vaccine-induced viral antibodies. Further studies are needed to resolve the cause of hypogammaglobulinemia in MCNS.

Keyword

Minimal change nephrotic syndrome; Children; Immunoglobulins; IgG subclasses; Anti-hepatitis B surface antibody; Anti-measles IgG

MeSH Terms

Agammaglobulinemia
Antibodies, Viral*
Child
Humans
Immunoglobulin A
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulin G*
Immunoglobulin M
Immunoglobulins
Nephrosis, Lipoid*
Nephrotic Syndrome
Antibodies, Viral
Immunoglobulin A
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M
Immunoglobulins