Comparative analysis of the degree of specific humoral immunity, content of serum immunoglobulins and isolation of vaccinia virus in children with post-vaccinal encephalitis after smallpox vaccination.
Considerable variations were found in the content of virus neutralizing antibodies (VNA) to smallpox in 35 children with postvaccinal encephalitis (PVE) which developed after vaccination against smallpox: the titre of VNA was high in 7 children, negligible in 14, and in 6 children VNA were not present 3-4 weeks after vaccination. Dependence of the production of VNA on the peculiarities of individual development and premorbid state of the patients as well as on serotherapy was analysed; the role of the inhibitory effect of immunoglobulin on the process of antibody formation was excluded. No correlation was found between the isolation of vaccinia virus from the blood, liquor and throat of the children suffering from PVE (virus was isolated from 17 children) and the level of VNA. The content of immunoglobulins A, M and G in PVE patients did not essentially differ from the corresponding age norm, though the increase in IgM and IgG in response to vaccination was absent or considerably delayed in most children. Importance of the obtained results for understanding the pathogenesis of PVE is discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004673:Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis*; D007223:Infant; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012901:Variola virus / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins