Related Experiment Videos
Circulating immune complexes, complement and complement component levels in childhood Hodgkin's disease
Insights
Circulating immune complexes (CIC) and complement levels fluctuate with Hodgkin's disease activity, treatment, and relapse in children. Elevated CIC and altered complement levels indicate active disease and potential relapse.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Immunology
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Hodgkin's disease in children involves complex immune system interactions.
- Monitoring immune markers can aid in understanding disease progression and treatment response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To correlate serum levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC), total hemolytic complement (TCH50), Clq, and C3 with clinical parameters in pediatric Hodgkin's disease.
- To investigate the dynamic changes of these immune markers during disease activity, treatment, and relapse.
Main Methods:
- Assay of CIC using Raji cell radioimmunoassay, TCH50, Clq, and C3 in 86 children with Hodgkin's disease over 4 years.
- Correlation of immune marker levels with clinical stage, histology, age, sex, and treatment status.
Main Results:
- Significantly elevated CIC and complement levels (C3, Clq) at diagnosis before treatment (P < 0.001).
- Persistent elevation of CIC observed during and after treatment, and notably at relapse.
- Total hemolytic complement (TCH50) levels were elevated in untreated active disease and decreased during/after treatment, with significant differences observed during relapses.
Conclusions:
- Serum CIC and complement levels are valuable indicators of disease activity and treatment response in pediatric Hodgkin's disease.
- Monitoring these immune markers can help identify patients with active disease and those at risk of relapse.
Abstract:
Serum levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC) assayed by the Raji cell radioimmunoassay, total haemolytic complement (TCH50), Clq and C3 were correlated with clinical stage, histological type, age, sex and treatment of eighty-six children with Hodgkin's disease over a period of 4 years. Most significant findings were the changes of levels of CIC, TCH50, Clq and C3 during disease activity and following treatment. Significant perturbations were also seen in association with relapse. Levels of C and CIC were significantly elevated (P less than 0.001) at the time of diagnosis prior to splenectomy and/or any treatment. In the group before treatment, 81 percent of CIC levels were above 16 micrograms/ml with a maximum value of 1120 micrograms/ml. During treatment 33 percent were still above normal with a maximum of 320 micrograms/ml. Within 1 year after cessation of treatment, 37 percent also remained above normal levels with a maximum of 240 micrograms/ml. At relapse prior to treatment, 63 percent were again elevated with a maximum of 1280 micrograms/ml. The most significant difference on TCH50 levels relates to treatment periods. Sera of patients with active disease who are previously untreated show elevation of TCH50 levels (P less than 0.001) (average 127 CH50 mu/ml. During and after treatment eht TCH50 levels drop to 96 and 102 CH50 mu/ml, as compared to normal control of 100 CH50 mu/ml. In sera of patients at the first, second or third relapse, the combined TCH50 levels are significantly different from controls and across treatment periods (P less than 0.005).