Risk factors predisposing children to transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy.

Introduction

Transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy (THI) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by reduced serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in early infancy.

Objective

This study aimed to identify potential risk factors associated with THI.

Methods

Children with THI and normoglobulinemic healthy children were compared by using a questionnaire that addressed possible risk factors.

Results

In total, 108 participants were enrolled, 54 patients with THI and 54 healthy controls. The median age at diagnosis of the patients with THI was 17 months (range, 4-38 months), and 40 (74.1%) were boys. In the control group, the median age was 22 months (range, 16-61 months), and 27 (50.0%) were boys. Male sex (p = 0.004), cesarean section birth (p = 0.003), low maternal education (p = 0.001), low paternal education (p = 0.004), analgesic use during pregnancy (p = 0.001), antibiotic use during pregnancy (p = 0.001), multivitamin use during pregnancy (p = 0.001), gestational diabetes or preeclampsia (p = 0.039), smoking exposure (p = 0.001), atopic disease (p = 0.001), and familial atopy (p = 0.001) were associated with THI, whereas low socioeconomic level (p = 0.001) and breast-feeding for > 6 months (p = 0.032) were less likely in the THI group.

Conclusion

There are several features of pregnancy history and family demographics that are associated with THI.