title: Immunological status of thalassemia syndrome.
abstract: A major cause of morbidity and mortality in thalassemic patients is infections, assumed to be the result of immunological changes. In this study immune functions of peripheral blood lymphocytes have been studied in 38 beta-thalassemia major, 12 beta-thalassemia trait, and 17 healthy children. Results show decrease in CD4+/CD8+ ratios in the beta-thalassemia major group and no difference according to absolute T-lymphocyte numbers and activated T-cell numbers. These results do not correlate with the tendency to infection. No significant difference was found in humoral immunity. The study of other factors in thalassemia is needed to detect those who are more susceptible to infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology, Social Security, Ankara Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ustün
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ezer
authors.forename: Ferda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gülderen
authors.forename: Vildan K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Culha
authors.forename: Nursen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akgül
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gürbüz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D013156:Splenectomy; D013577:Syndrome; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000276:immunology*