Immunoglobulin levels and CD4 / CD8 counts in β- thalassemia major
P P Kadam1, M V Manglani, S M Sharma
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and General Hospital, Sion, Mumbai, India. Correspondence to: Dr Mamta Manglani, Professor and Head, Pediatrics, Chief, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College AND General Hospital, Sion, Mumbai 400 022, India. mmanglani@hotmail.com.
Objective:
This cross-sectional study determined the CD4, CD8 counts and serum immunoglobulins in transfusion dependent b - thalassemic patients, and correlated them with anti-HIV, anti-HCV and HBsAg status, number of transfusions, iron overload and splenectomy.
Methods:
Patients with acute or chronic diseases (except HIV, Hepatitis B and C), on immunosuppressive drugs or vaccinated within one month prior to study were excluded. CD4, CD8 counts and serum Immunoglobulins were documented.
Results:
Increasing transfusions led to higher IgA and IgM as well as a decline in CD4 and CD8 levels. Higher ferritin correlated with high IgM. CD4, CD8 and IgA were significantly higher in splenectomized subjects. HCV correlated significantly with lower IgA values.
Conclusion:
Higher transfusion requirement, iron overload, splenectomy and HCV infection correlated with alterations in different immunological parameters.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
01:22T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...