title: Cellular immunodeficiency in protein-losing enteropathy. Predominant reduction of CD3+ and CD4+ lymphocytes.
abstract: Cellular immunological abnormalities were studied in a patient with protein-losing enteropathy associated with constrictive pericarditis. Analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood showed lymphopenia with a decrease of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells, whereas CD8+ lymphocytes, B cells and NK cells were within the normal range. Fecal loss of lymphocytes as a cause of lymphopenia was evidenced by a marked excretion of 111-indium-labeled peripheral blood mononuclear cells via stool. Proliferative responses against several mitogens were severely reduced as was in vitro IgG production. Delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction against a variety of antigens was absent. Vaccination with tick-borne encephalitis virus, used for primary immunization, and with the recall antigen tetanus toxoid resulted in a blunted antibody response. After pericardectomy, the severity of enteric protein loss declined, serum immunoglobulin levels returned to the normal range, and total lymphocytes and CD3+ and CD4+ counts increased but remained low even 12 months after surgery. Fecal loss of lymphocytes was found to be reduced after pericardectomy, but was higher than that seen in a disease control patient with active inflammatory bowel disease. In vitro immunoglobulin production returned to normal, DTH could be demonstrated against purified protein derivative and proteus antigen, but mitogen-driven blastogenic response of lymphocytes remained low. Revaccination with tick-borne encephalitis and tetanus toxoid antigens seven months after surgery resulted in a dramatic increase of serum levels of antibodies against both antigens, comparable to that seen in healthy control individuals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Göttlicher
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Zielinski
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Eibl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000917:Antibody Formation; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D005243:Feces / Q000166:cytology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000150:complications; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G