Circulating immunecomplexes, immunoglobulins and complements in Nigerian children with Burkitt's lymphoma

ABSTRACT

The serum levels of circulating immunecomplexes [CICs], immunoglobulins [Igs] and complements [Cs] were studied in 20 Nigerian children with Burkett's lymphoma [BL] [age 4-10 years; 12 males, 8 females]. Of these patients, 6 patients had single facial tumor mass [SFIM] on left maxilla, 4 patients had SEIM on right maxilla, 6 patients had SFIM on left mandible and 4 patients had SFIM on right mandible. The findings were that mean serum IgM level in BL was significantly lower than that of control subjects [CS] [P < 0.01], whereas IgG and IgA levels were normal [P > 0,05]. In BL, the serum levels of CICs and CS [C3, 64] were significantly higher [P < 0.02 and lower [P < 0.05] respectively as compared to controls. It was therefore proposed that the lowered serum IgM level may be due to virus-induced IgM-specific T-cell immunosuppression. The decrease levels of Cs were explained as probably due to their increased utilization for clearance of excessive CICs