ABSTRACT
75 diabetic patients were the subject of this study. They were classified into 3 groups, 25 in each: group I [IDDM adult patients]; group II [NIDDM adult patients] and group III [IDDM children]. 2 groups of apparently healthy individuals of matching age and sex [25 in each] were chosen and served as control groups: one for the adult and the other for the children diabetic patients. In group 1, 52% of patients showed abnormal higher levels of IgA while, 12% showed abnormal higher levels of IgG. On the other hand 16% showed abnormal low levels of IgM. In group II percentages of patients showing abnormal immunoglobulin levels were 64%, 16% and 16% for IgA, IgG and IgM respectively. Regarding diabetic children, 12%, 4% and 8% showed abnormal levels of IgA, IgG and IgM respectively. IgA levels showed a positive significant correlation with age, disease duration, F. B. S and serum fructosamine in diabetic patients of group I. Neither correlation with age nor with disease duration was found among diabetic patients of group II and III. We concluded that abnormal serum IgA concentrations are very common in diabetic adult patients. Further research should be carried out to verify whether the determination of serum IgA is of clinical use for monitoring diabetes or evaluating its complications. Also our results, in addition to the recently reported relationship between serum fructosamine and IgA in non diabetic patients appears to throw doubt on the clinical utility of fructosamine as a measure of hyperglycemic status if IgA concentration is not taken into account especially in adult diabetic patients but can be used for diabetic children with no doubt