[The thymo-lymphatic system in congenital thymomegaly (clinico-morphological study)]

To elucidate the functional capacity of the thymus and to evaluate immunity in congenital thymomegaly the authors studied 200 autopsy thymicolymphatic specimens obtained from children under 5 who had died from congenital malformations or acute respiratory diseases. The sections were studied histologically, histochemically and using immunofluorescence to detect thymalin and measure blood thymic hormones. The hormones secretion in congenitally thymomegaly was found reduced, the deficiency growing with the disease progression. Congenital thymomegaly is defined as a primary immunodeficiency of the T-cell immunity system predominantly, which demonstrates hypo- or dysfunction of the enlarged thymus combined with elevated proliferative activity and T-lymphocyte semimaturation.