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Isolation of Tonsillar Mononuclear Cells to Study Ex Vivo Innate Immune Responses in a Human Mucosal Lymphoid Tissue
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Improved somatic growth following adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy in young children. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms

Harilaos S Vontetsianos1, Spiros E Davris, George D Christopoulos

  • 1ENT Department, First Paediatric Department, Athens University, Children's Hospital, Agia Sophia Athens, Greece.

Hormones (Athens, Greece)
|April 7, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Adenotonsillectomy improved weight in all children and height in those under 5 years. This surgery may enhance growth hormone (GH) and IGF-1 generation, reduce infections, and improve overall somatic development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Adenotonsillar hypertrophy and recurrent infections can impact children's somatic growth.
  • Adenotonsillectomy (T&A) is a common surgical intervention for these conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively evaluate the effect of adenotonsillectomy on somatic growth in children.
  • To investigate potential pathogenetic mechanisms influencing growth post-surgery.

Main Methods:

  • 57 children (aged 5.03±1.32 years) underwent T&A for adenotonsillar hypertrophy.
  • Measurements included weight, height, skinfold thickness, BMI, and metabolic/hormonal markers (IGF-I, GH, Hbeta, WBC) pre- and post-operatively.
  • Paired t-tests were used for pre- and post-operative comparisons.

Main Results:

  • Significant weight improvement was observed in all children post-T&A.
  • Height significantly improved only in children younger than 5 years.
  • The IGF-1/GH ratio increased post-operatively, suggesting improved IGF-1 generation. Hemoglobin (Hbeta) values rose, and white blood cell (WBC) counts decreased, likely due to reduced infections.

Conclusions:

  • Adenotonsillectomy promotes linear growth in children under 5 years.
  • Improved somatic growth post-T&A is associated with an enhanced IGF-1/GH ratio, increased Hbeta, and decreased WBC, indicating better overall health and reduced infection frequency.

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