ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the body fluid and cellular immune function of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in the plateau area, as well as the exchanges of these factors during the comprehensive rehabilitation treatment.Methods:A total number of 144 children admitted to Xining Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from June 2018 to October 2019 were selected as the CP group for comprehensive rehabilitation treatment (consecutive courses). The peripheral blood immunoglobulin/complement (IgA, IgG, lgM, C3, C4) level, T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) content was examined in the clinical specimens before and after treatment by using the immunoturbidimetry, flow cytometry, electrochemiluminescence analysis according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and Gross Motor Function Test Scale (GMFM-88). Children were divided as the different degrees to evaluate the rehabilitation efficacy. A total number of 50 healthy children taken a health check/physical examinations during the same period were considered as the control group. For statistical Analysis, the χ2 test and independent sample t test were performed. Results:The levels of humoral immune IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 and C4 in CP Group [(6.42±1.05), (0.64±0.13), (0.89±0.13), (0.80±0.08), (0.17±0.03) g/L, respectively] in CP groups′ children were lower than those in the control group [(10.25±0.62), (1.04±0.06), (1.06±0.17), (1.04±0.04), (0.27±0.04) g/L, respectively]. The humoral immune IgG and IgA levels [severe (5.40±0.69) and (0.55±0.09)g/L, moderate (6.63±0.30) and (0.66±0.14)g/L, mild (7.57±0.63) and (0.74±0.09)g/L, P<0.05] were also related to the children with CP of different GMFCS grades. Moreover, the level of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,CD4+/CD8+) in the CP group were not statistically different to that in the control groups children. Receiving the rehabilitation treatment, the levels of serum humoral IgG and IgA in CP Group (7.69±1.14) and (0.79±0.17) g/L were significantly enhanced; whereas the serum NSE (12.82±2.49) μg/L was lower than that before treatment (18.57±3.08) μg/L, and the total score of GMFM-88 (121.35±26.51) was higher than that before treatment (101.04±27.62). The differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). IgM, C3, C4 and T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+) had no significant difference compared with those before treatment ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Children with CP at high altitude have abnormal humoral immune function. IgG and IgA may be related to the severity of CP and neuronal damage. Comprehensive rehabilitation can not only improve the motor function of children with CP, relieve neuronal damage, but also enhance their humoral immunity status.