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Cell-mediated immune status of children with recurrent infection
H G Herrod1, M S Blaiss, W R Valenski
1Crippled Children's Foundation Research Center, Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38163, USA.
Objective:
To evaluate the cell-mediated immune status of children with recurrent respiratory tract infections.
Design:
We evaluated the cell-mediated immune status of 76 patients referred because of recurrent infection. Patients were divided into those with serologic abnormalities and those without such findings. Twenty-three healthy children served as control subjects. Studies of lymphocyte phenotype included CD4+ CD29+ cells (an immunologically mature phenotype), lymphocyte proliferation studies, cytokine production including interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-6, and interferon gamma), and measurement of in vitro IgM and IgG synthesis.
Results:
Lymphocyte proliferation and T-cell phenotype were similar in both patient groups as well as in control subjects. The proportions of CD4+ CD29+ cells at different ages were similar in all groups. Patients with serologic abnormalities (e.g., partial IgA deficiency, partial IgG subclass deficiency) produced more IL-2 and IL-4 than did other patients. The control population had greater spontaneous IgM and IgG synthesis than the patient groups.
Conclusion:
Routine studies of T-cell function of patients with recurrent infection provide little information useful in making clinical decisions.