[Significance of changes of T lymphocytes subsets in children with infectious mononucleosis and the effects of different interventions].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate changes of T lymphocytes subsets in children with infectious mononucleosis (IM) and the effects of different interventions.


METHODS
Forty-eight children with IM were enrolled, 28 cases were assigned to the group treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) 400 mg/(kg x d) for 5 continuous days or IVIG 1 g/(kg x d) for 2 continuous days, the remaining 20 cases were treated with ganciclovir (GCV) 5-10 mg/(kg x d) for 5 consecutive days. All these children were given general supportive therapies. Twenty healthy children from healthcare clinic serviced as control group.


RESULTS
CD4 (%), CD8 (%) and the CD4/CD8 ratio in healthy control group were (34.12 +/- 3.53)%, (26.22 +/- 4.43)% and (1.41 +/- 0.3), in IVIG group were (24.2 +/- 4.3)%, (36.4 +/- 6.8)% and (0.72 +/- 0.12), and in GCV group were (23.7 +/- 5.1)%, (37.3 +/- 7.8)% and (0.67 +/- 0.13), respectively. CD4 (%), CD8 (%) and the ratio CD4/CD8 in the control group were significantly different from those in both groups with IM (P < 0.05). Compared with pre-treatment levels, the 28 cases treated with IVIG had significant improvement, the CD4 (%) increased, CD8 (%) decreased and the ratio of CD4/CD8 increased after treatment (P < 0.05). However, 20 cases in GCV treatment group made less changes (P > 0.05) . Meanwhile, the clinical symptoms and signs in the IVIG group were improved faster than that in the GCV group (P < 0.05). The rate of remission in IVIG group was 88.7% vs. 59.2% of GCV group (P < 0.05); the hospital days in IVIG group were (9.2 +/- 4.3) days vs. (13.8 +/- 5.1) days in the GCV (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
It is indicated that the subsets of T lymphocytes in peripheral blood are obviously abnormal in children with IM caused by EBV infection in acute phase. IVIG can regulate the immunological derangements of T lymphocytes subsets, on which anti-viral therapy alone may have little impact.
Chen
Zhuang-gui
ZG
Department of Pediatrics, The Third Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
Li
Ming
M
Ji
Jing-zhi
JZ
Chen
Hong
H
Chen
Yan-feng
YF
Chen
Fen-hua
FH
D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007223:Infant; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
D007136:Immunoglobulins; D015774:Ganciclovir