Serum IgA and IgM levels in hemochromatosis probands with HFE p.C282Y homozygosity

BackgroundSerum IgA and IgM levels in cohorts of adults with hemochromatosis are not reported. MethodsWe compiled serum IgA and IgM levels at diagnosis of hemochromatosis in probands with HFE p.C282Y (rs1800562) homozygosity, investigated associations of IgA and IgM with clinical and other laboratory characteristics, and compared mean IgA and IgM of probands with combined/weighted means of published adult European cohorts not selected for hemochromatosis. ResultsThere were 73 probands (36 men, 37 women; mean age 51 {+/-} 13 y). Fifty probands (68.5%) had human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*03. Mean IgA {+/-} standard deviation [95% confidence interval] was 2.11 {+/-} 1.06 g/L [1.87, 2.35]. Mean IgM was 1.11 {+/-} 0.75 g/L [0.94, 1.28]. IgM was inversely associated with age (Pearsons r73 = -0.2733; p = 0.019). A multiple regression on IgA revealed no significant association with other characteristics. A regression on IgM revealed one positive association (daily alcohol intake; p = 0.036) and one negative association (age; p = 0.016). Mean IgA of male and female probands and corresponding mean IgA of Europeans in two cohorts (918 men, 458 women) did not differ significantly. Mean IgM of probands was lower than the mean IgM of Europeans in four cohorts (men 1.03 {+/-} 0.84 g/L vs. 1.35 {+/-} 0.55 g/L (n = 1084)), respectively (p <0.001); women 1.18 {+/-} 0.67 g/L vs. 1.57 {+/-} 0.68 g/L (n = 622), respectively (p <0.001)). ConclusionsSerum IgM levels of hemochromatosis probands with HFE p.C282Y homozygosity are positively associated with daily alcohol intake and inversely associated with age. Mean IgM levels of male and female probands are lower than those of European men and women not selected for hemochromatosis.