Study of CD4+, CD8+, and natural killer cells (CD16+, CD56+) in children with immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the percentage of CD4+, CD8+, and natural killer cells (CD16+, CD56+) in children with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) at presentation and study their impact on disease chronicity.


METHODS
This case-control study was conducted at the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit, Menoufia University Hospital (tertiary care center in Egypt). The study was held on 30 children presenting with ITP; they were followed-up and classified into two groups: 15 children with acute ITP; and 15 children with chronic ITP. Patients were compared to a group of 15 healthy children of matched age and sex. Measurements of CD4+, CD8+, and natural killer cells (CD16+, CD56+) by flow cytometry were assessed and compared in these groups.


RESULTS
CD4+and CD4+/CD8+were significantly lower in acute and chronic patients than the control group (p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively), with no significant difference between acute and chronic patients (p>0.05). However, CD8+was significantly higher in acute and chronic patients than the control group (p<0.05), with no significant difference between acute and chronic patients (p>0.05). Natural killer cell percent was significantly lower in acute patients than the control group (p<0.001), with no significant difference between chronic and control groups (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
ITP is associated with immunity dysfunction denoted by the increase in cytotoxic T lymphocytes and the decrease in natural killer cells.
Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt.
Farida Hussein
FH
El-Rashedi
Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt. Electronic address: mahmodelhawy18@yahoo.com.
Mahmoud Ahmed
MA
El-Hawy
Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt.
Mohamed Ahmed
MA
Helwa
Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt.
Sameh Said
SS
Abd-Allah
D000208:Acute Disease; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000378:metabolism
D019002:CD56 Antigen; D017452:Receptors, IgG
CD16(+); CD4(+); CD56(+); CD8(+); Immune thrombocytopenic purpura; Natural killer cells