ABSTRACT

Transient hypogammaglobunemia of infancy (THI) is defined as hypogammaglobunemia due to prolonged delay in immunglobulin production by infants in whom other hypogammaglobunemia have been excluded. The true incidence of THI has not been estimated. In patients with recurrent severe infections, prophylactic antibiotics and intravenous immunglobulin administration is indicated. The aim of this retrospective study was to report our THI patients.

The demographic data, clinical manifestations, laboratory analysis and therapies were evaluated.

Eighty-seven patients (52 were boys and 35 were girls) were enrolled. The median age of onset of the symptoms was 9.7 (1.3-37.1, range) months. The main clinical manifestations were recurrent lower respiratory tract infections. IVIG replacement therapy was administered to thirty-nine (45%) patients while the others required no treatment. The median age of onset of the therapy was 7.4 (2.1-37.13, range) months, and the median treatment duration was 5.8±4.7 months. During the follow-up, 49 (56%) of them recovered, eight (9%) were followed as THI and three (3%) of them as disgammaglobunemia. Most of the patients recovered by age 2.

THI is a self-limited disorder from which patients recover by the time they are 3 years old. Long-term follow up is necessary to rule out the other hypogammaglobulinemia disorders.