title: Alterations of the immune system following splenectomy in childhood.
abstract: After splenectomy due to blunt abdominal trauma, splenectomized children showed a restricted pattern of T-cell immunodeficiency compared to age and sex-matched normal children. Peripheral blood total (CD3) T-cell counts of 11 splenectomized children of 43%, double positive helper (CD4) inducer subpopulation (CD29) cell counts of nine splenectomized children of 7%, and phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced T-cell proliferation of 11 splenectomized children of 53,206 c.p.m. were significantly (p less than 0.05) lower than values of normal children (61% CD3 cells, n = 12; 13% CD4CD29 cells, n = 11; 107,832 c.p.m. PHA-induced proliferation, n = 12). The deficit of CD4CD29 cell numbers may be due to impaired maturation of these particular CD4 lymphocytes and may explain diminished PHA-induced proliferation in small children. The significantly higher B-lymphocyte counts of splenectomized children (21%, n = 11; 558 cells/mm3, n = 10) compared with 12 normal children (14%; 329 cells/mm3) may be due to loss of the reservoir function of the spleen.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Virologie und Immunologie, Universitätsklinikum-GHS-Essen, F.R., Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kreuzfelder
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Obertacke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Erhard
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Funk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Steinen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Scheiermann
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Thraenhart
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Eigler
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Schmit-Neuerburg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007136:Immunoglobulins