J Korean Med Sci.  2009 Apr;24(2):357-359. 10.3346/jkms.2009.24.2.357.

Massive Empyema Associated With Transient Hypogammaglobulinemia of Infancy and IgA Deficiency

• Park K
• Lee KY
• Lee MH
• Lee JS
• Kim JC

• KMID: 1779147
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2009.24.2.357

Abstract

Transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy (THI) is originally defined as a physiological maturation defect of immunoglobulin G (IgG) production that occurs at 3-6 months of age and lasts until 18 to 36 months of age. We report here on a 22-month-old child with THI and IgA deficiency, who had massive pneumococcal empyema. Her depressed IgG level returned to normal within 6 months, but IgA level was still low at 6 yr of age. Although THI is an age-dependent and self-limiting disorder, severe infection that includes an atypical presentation of an infection may occur in some patients and this requires evaluation with immunologic study.

Keyword

Transient Hypogammaglobulinemia of Infancy; IgA Immunodeficiency; Empyema; Streptococcus pneumoniae

MeSH Terms

Agammaglobulinemia/complications/*diagnosis/immunology
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use
Ceftriaxone/therapeutic use
Drug Resistance, Bacterial
Empyema, Pleural/*diagnosis/etiology/radiography
Female
Humans
IgA Deficiency/*diagnosis/immunology
Immunoglobulin A/blood
Immunoglobulin G/blood
Infant
Staphylococcal Infections/*diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology
Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A chest CT performed on admission day shows massive pleural effusion with total collapse of left lung. The mediastinum shifts to right side.

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