title: Immunological abnormalities in the syndrome of poliomyelitis-like illness associated with acute bronchial asthma (Hopkin's syndrome).
abstract: In recent years an unusual syndrome of poliomyelitis-like illness, associated with acute bronchial asthma, has been reported from different parts of the world. A further 3 cases are described in this paper. Although the condition resembles poliomyelitis in most respects, particularly with regard to the severe permanent residual weakness usually observed, consistent evidence of a viral aetiology has not been forthcoming. Tests of immune function suggested the presence of varying degrees of nonspecific immune deficiency in our 3 patients, but evidence of viral invasion was inconclusive. It is suggested that a combination of immune deficiency with the stress of the acute asthma attack rendered the patients susceptible to invasion of the anterior horn cells by a viral agent, which may have been of external origin, or may have existed in a latent form within the host.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D010243:Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D003165:Complement System Proteins