title: Immunologic defects in young male patients with hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia.
abstract: Extensive immunologic studies were done in 97 patients with severe aplastic anemia between 1973 and 1979. Sixteen young male patients with hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia appeared to constitute a unique subset. Compared with most patients with aplastic anemia from other causes, these 16 patients had significant reductions in the mean values of circulating T lymphocytes, serum IgG and IgM, mitogen reactivity, and decreased cutaneous hypersensitivity. The ratio of peripheral blood helper to suppressor T lymphocytes identified by monoclonal antibodies was within normal limits in 3 patients studied with hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia. Interestingly, the ratio was low (less than 1) in 3 of 7 patients studied with aplastic anemia from other causes, although the mean for these 7 patients was normal. These data suggest that patients in this subset with hepatitis-associated severe aplastic anemia have a severe immunodeficiency. Whether this immunodeficiency is the cause or result of the hepatitis or aplastic anemia, or both, is unknown.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins