A comparison of B cell subsets in primary immune deficiencies that progress with antibody deficiency and age-matched healthy children

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to examine the B lymphocyte subsets in primary immunodeficiency that progress with antibody deficiency.MethodsThe patients’ naive, memory, class-switched memory and non-switched memory B cells were compared with those of healthy individuals of matching ages using flow cytometry.ResultsA total of 67 patients with antibody deficiency and 28 healthy children of matching ages were included in the study. The median age of the patients was six years (min–max: 1–24) and 40 (59.7%) were male. The median age of the healthy controls was again six years (min–max: 1–17) and 12 (42.8%) were male. Patients with common variable immunodeficiency had higher relative counts of naive cells when compared with the control group; however, they were found to have lower relative counts of memory, relative and absolute counts of non-switched and relative counts of switched B lymphocytes (p = 0.001, 0.023, 0.003–0.003, 0.001, respectively). In patients with selective IgA deficiency, similar to patients with common variable immunodeficiency, the relative counts of naive cells were found to be higher, while the relative counts of memory and relative and absolute counts of non-switched B lymphocytes were found to be lower when compared with the control group (p = 0.011, 0.032, 0.006–0.009, respectively). Although patients with selective IgM deficiency had higher relative counts of naive B cells when compared with the control group, they had lower relative and absolute counts of non-switched B lymphocytes (p = 0.008–0.016).ConclusionsThe B lymphocyte subsets of patients with selective IgA deficiency are largely similar to those of patients with common variable immunodeficiency. Both illness groups exhibit low levels of memory B cells.