Serum and Salivary IgA Levels in Normal Subjects: Comparison between Tonsillectomized and Non-Tonsillectomized Subjects

Abstract

Serum IgA and secretory IgA (SIgA) were determined in 1,000 apparently healthy subjects; 274 were tonsillectomized. Four groups were identified in this study: (1) 0.3% of subjects had no serum IgA and SIgA; (2) 1.6% of subjects showed partial serum and SIgA deficiency; (3) 27.4% of individuals were tonsillectomized and had partial serum IgA deficiency but normal SIgA, and (4) 71.4% were normal, both with respect to serum IgA and SIgA. These results stress the relatively high incidence of IgA deficiency in the normal population and confirm the role of the tonsils in maintaining serum IgA levels.

Alterations in Humoral Immunity After Partial Versus Total Tonsillectomy: A Pilot Study and Systematic Review of Literature

“…In 1982, D'Amelio et al (4) found that the serum IgA was significantly lower in tonsillectomized patients compared to controls. However, there were no preoperative values to compare with.…”

The effect of tonsillectomy on the immune system: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…However, the clinical sequalae of that decrease was not clear. In the largest of these studies (D'Amelio et al [11], 274 patients) the clinical relevance was not studied and in the 2 nd large study (Böck A et al [22], 160 patients) the results were clinically insignificant.…”

“…We could not isolate the data of the pediatric patients from those of adults within each of these articles, so we kept them combined and pointed to any reported difference in results within each article, where applicable. Another reason we did not exclude these studies is the fact that some included different age groups for comparison which was quite useful [8,10,25], while others looked at the sequalae of tonsillectomy in young adults who had tonsillectomy in the past [11]. The timing of postoperative testing varied from 10 days to 11 years, with 2 studies not specifying the timing.…”

The role of adenotonsillectomy in graft-versus-host disease

“…One of the first reports on immune system impact by Ogra showed that adenotonsillectomy in children reduces the level of IgA antibody to poliovirus approximately fourfold and subsequently delays local immune response to subsequent live oral poliovaccine [17]. Later studies have also validated a decrease in IgA levels [18][19][20]. Other studies have suggested that IgG levels are significantly decreased following adenotonsillar surgery [21][22][23].…”