Serum IgD levels in children with atopic asthma. A longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Serum IgD and IgE levels were measured in children with atopic asthma and in control Group in order to determine their relationship with clinical status. METHODS: Samples of venous blood (of 5 cc) were drawn from 25 asthmatic children (Group A) and 25 healthy children (Group B) at the moment of first diagnosis (T0), after 6 months (T180) and after 18 months (T540). To measure IgD, an ELISA assay based on the sandwich principle was used. RESULTS: At T0, IgD were significantly higher in Group A (182.7 5+/-88.18 IU/ml) in comparison with Group B (69.58+/-4.93 IU/ml, p<0.0001); IgD levels decreased in Group A at T540. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, a significant increase of IgD levels observed in children at first signs of asthma and the following normalization of these same levels after 18 months, may represent a non specific response or an attempt of the organism to block asthma, favouring therefore immunologic tolerance.

Tolerance and pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin in the chick. Preliminary experience in subjects of pediatric age with urinary tract infections (UTI).

We studied the tolerance and pharmacokinetic parameters of ciprofloxacin in (2 mg/kg, i.v.) in 45 chicks. Serum concentrations of ciprofloxacin at various times of drawing (15 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 3 hr, 6 hr, 8 hr and 12 hr) peaked in the first 15 min with a trough after 6 hr, and were completely absent after 8 hr. We found no neurotoxic effects or behavioral changes. Encouraged by a good tolerance for this quinolone, we conducted a preliminary study concerning the therapeutic efficacy of ciprofloxacin in 8 subjects of pediatric age (8-14 years) with urinary tract infections (UTI) that are resistant to classic antibiotics. The results and normality of hematologic parameters, checked before and after therapy, allow us to recommend the monitored use of ciprofloxacin in children with UTI resulting from bacteria resistant to other antibiotics.