Humoral immunity in steroid-dependent children with asthma and hypogammaglobulinemia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine primary and secondary antibody responses in children with hypogammaglobulinemia attributed to corticosteroid use.


RESULTS
In seven patients with steroid-dependent asthma and significant hypogammaglobulinemia (IgG concentration, 275 to 443 mg/dl), antibody responses to protein and polysaccharide antigens were shown to be normal, as were primary and secondary responses to a neoantigen, bacteriophage phi X174.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with asthma, and with hypogammaglobulinemia resulting from steroid therapy, have normal humoral immunity, and immunoglobulin replacement therapy is not indicated.
Lack
G
G
Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, Colorado 80206, USA.
Ochs
H D
HD
Gelfand
E W
EW
D000293:Adolescent; D000361:Agammaglobulinemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D010584:Bacteriophage phi X 174 / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid / Q000276:immunology; D022422:Diphtheria-Tetanus Vaccine; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000276:immunology
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid; D022422:Diphtheria-Tetanus Vaccine; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D017778:Vaccines, Combined; D011241:Prednisone