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Adenoidectomy in young children and serum IgG antibodies to pneumococcal surface protein A and choline binding

Petri S Mattila1, Sari Hammarén-Malmi, Harri Saxen

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland. petri.mattila@hus.fi

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
|July 28, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Adenoidectomy in young children impairs the development of serum IgG antibodies to pneumococcal choline-binding protein A (CbpA). This suggests the adenoid plays a role in boosting immunity against pneumococci.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pediatrics
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Previous research indicated adenoidectomy increases pneumococcal colonization risk in children.
  • The impact of adenoidectomy on specific antibody responses to pneumococcal proteins remained unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if adenoidectomy affects serum IgG antibody development to pneumococcal choline-binding protein A (CbpA) and pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA).

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 217 children (12-48 months) with recurrent otitis media undergoing adenoidectomy or not.
  • Follow-up for 166 children over 3 years, measuring serum IgG antibodies to CbpA and PspA.
  • Assessing nasopharyngeal pneumococcal colonization at 1, 2, and 3 years post-randomization.

Main Results:

  • Adenoidectomy significantly decreased serum IgG concentrations to CbpA by approximately 25% (P=0.016).
  • This reduction in CbpA antibodies occurred independently of increased pneumococcal carriage.
  • Serum IgG antibody concentrations to PspA were lower and not significantly influenced by adenoidectomy.

Conclusions:

  • Adenoidectomy in young children leads to a measurable impairment in developing serum IgG antibodies against pneumococcal CbpA.
  • The adenoid appears to contribute to enhancing systemic immunity against pneumococcal infections.
Abstract

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