Transient Hypogammaglobulinemia of Infancy Follow-up

  • Author: Alan P Knutsen, MD; Chief Editor: Harumi Jyonouchi, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jul 27, 2010
 

Further Outpatient Care

  • Confirm initial diagnosis by measuring serum immunoglobulin levels annually until levels normalize.
  • As discussed above, treatment of infections and modalities to reduce infections should be instituted. Treatment of allergic disorders should also be instituted.
  • With appropriate treatment, these children can be considered healthy. The prognosis for transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy (THI) is quite good. Most children outgrow this immune deficiency when aged 2-6 years. However, THI is a diagnosis that is made retrospectively when serum immunoglobulin levels normalize and all antibody responses are normal.
  • The immune system is periodically evaluated, usually at yearly intervals.
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Prognosis

  • Long-term prognosis for patients with THI is excellent; the immune system becomes normal in patients by age 2-6 years.
  • Serious life-threatening infections in patients with THI are rare.
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Patient Education

  • Inform parents that THI is an immunodeficiency that eventually self-corrects because it is a maturational immunodeficiency.
  • Also inform parents that patients are unlikely to have serious life-threatening infections.
  • In addition, many infants with THI have or develop concomitant allergic diseases.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Alan P Knutsen, MD  Professor of Pediatrics, Director of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Director Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic & Research Center for Primary Immuodeficiences (CGCMC), Director of Pediatric Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, St Louis University Health Sciences Center

Alan P Knutsen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and Clinical Immunology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David J Valacer, MD  Consulting Staff, Hoffman La Roche Pharmaceuticals

David J Valacer, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Thoracic Society, and New York Academy of Sciences

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David Pallares, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of Louisville

David Pallares, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Harumi Jyonouchi, MD  Associate Professor, Division of Pulmonary Allergy/Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School

Harumi Jyonouchi, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Immunologists, American Medical Association, Clinical Immunology Society, New York Academy of Sciences, Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, Society for Mucosal Immunology, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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