IMMUNOLOGICAL STATUS OF THALASSEMIA SYNDROME

• Published in: Pediatric hematology and oncology Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 51 - 58
• Main Authors: Ezer, Ustün, Gülderen, Ferda, Culha, Vildan K, Akgül, Nursen, Gürbüz, Ozlem
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Informa UK Ltd 2002; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anemias. Hemoglobinopathies; beta-Thalassemia - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Child; Child, Preschool; Diseases of red blood cells; Female; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Immune System; Immunity, Cellular; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Lymphocyte Count; Male; Medical sciences; Splenectomy; Syndrome; T-Lymphocytes - classification; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Thalassemia; Tropical medicine; Asia; Turkey; Human; Hemoglobinopathy; Immunoglobulinemia; Pathophysiology; Hemopathy; Genetic disease; Numeration; Hemolytic anemia; β-Thalassemia; Immunological investigation; Adolescent; T-Lymphocyte; Child; Immune system
• ISSN: 0888-0018; 1521-0669
• DOI: 10.1080/088800102753356194

A major cause of morbidity and mortality in thalassemic patients is infections, assumed to be the result of immunological changes. In this study immune functions of peripheral blood lymphocytes have been studied in 38 &#103 -thalassemia major, 12 &#103 -thalassemia trait, and 17 healthy children. Results show decrease in CD4 + /CD8 + ratios in the &#103 -thalassemia major group and no difference according to absolute T-lymphocyte numbers and activ ated T-cell numbers. These results do not correlate with the tendency to infection. No significant difference was found in humoral immunity. The study of other factors in thalassemia is needed to detect those who are more susceptible to infections.