The prevalence of immunodeficiency in a special population: intern doctors

Authors : Filiz Sadi Aykan, Fatih Çölkesen, Recep Evcen, Mehmet Kılınç, Eray Yıldız, Ümmügülsüm Yılmaz Ergün, Tuğba Önalan, Fatma Arzu Akkuş, Selim Kahraman, Mehmet Emin Gerek, Şevket Arslan

Pages : 56-65

View : 29 | Download : 7

Publication Date : 2024-05-31

Article Type : Research

Abstract :Background: This study analyzes the immune system parameters of intern doctors working actively during the COVID-19 pandemic. When an intern doctor failed to respond to the treatment during a severe COVID-19 condition, the immune system panel was examined and as a result, it revealed an underlying immunodeficiency. The death of the intern doctor caused several concerns among other intern doctors, and for this reason, their immune systems were also considered to be examined. This study aims to demonstrate that immunodeficiencies might be more common than is known among the general population. Methods: In this single-center study, the demographic characteristics and European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID) diagnostic criteria of 92 intern doctors have been examined retrospectively. For the study, immune system parameters (complete blood count, serum immunoglobulins and subgroup levels, specific vaccine responses, isohemagglutinin titers, lymphocyte subgroups, and class-switched memory B cell (cSMB) levels have been evaluated. Results: When the demographic characteristics have been analyzed it is seen that the median age is 23.6 (21-28) years, and 64 (70%) of the intern doctors are female. In immune system parameters, one or more are found to be low in 51.08% of the doctors. Among the immunoglobulin subgroups, low IgG4 has been the most common. Selective IgA deficiency has been detected in 2.17% and selective IgM deficiency has been detected in also 2.17% of them. Low B cells (CD19+) are detected in 10.9% and low levels of class-switched memory B cells are found in 35.7% of them. Conclusion: This study reveals that deficient immunological parameters, especially selective Ig A, selective IgM deficiency, and low IgG4, might be more frequent than known. Depending on the data, it can be concluded that immunodeficiency might be more common than it is known among the general population; however, low immunological parameters alone do not lead to immunodeficiency.
Keywords : Intern doctor, immune system, immunodeficiency, immunoglobulins, lymphocyte subgroup