Abstract
Serum level of IgG subclass was measured in 11 children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and age-matched (5-12 years) normal children in order to analyze the effects of maintenance chemotherapy on immune status of ALL. The results were as follows : Serum IgG1 and IgG3 levels in the patients were 7.28 (4.41-12.02 : geometric mean±SD) mg/ml and 0.37 (0.16-0.90) mg/ml, and those in normal controls were 8.38 (5.94-11.80) mg/ml and 0.35 (0.20-0.61) mg/ml, respectively. The differences were not significant. Serum IgG2 and IgG4 levels in the patients were 0.64 (0.21-1.98) mg/ml and 0.018 (0.011-0.029) mg/ml, and those in normal controls were 1.99 (1.04-3.81) mg/ml and 0.10 (0.041-0.24) mg/ml, respectively. The differences were statistically significant (p<0.05 and p <0.005). IgG2 levels of 4 patients were less than-2SD the level of normal controls, and IgG4 was not detectable in 6 patients. Though no recurrent or severe infection occurred during maintenance chemotherapy, this IgG subclass deficiency may cause severe infection. In conclusion, gammaglobulin preparations should be appropriately used in infectious episodes in ALL during chemotherapy.
