Serum immunoglobulin G subclasses in healthy infants and children in Greece.

Serum concentrations of immunoglobulin IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 were determined by radial immunodiffusion in a sample of 414 healthy Greek children, who were admitted to the major Teaching Hospital for Children in Athens for minor surgical operations. Statistical analysis was performed by multiple regression after logarithmic transformation of the immunoglobulin values. There was a statistically significant increase of IgG3 with age, whereas IgG1, IgG2 and IgG4 levels reached a turning point at the age of five years. Older than 5 years male children were found to have marginally higher IgG4 levels than females. Low socioeconomic class was positively and significantly associated (9% increase) with IgG1 levels only among the older age group. History of frequent infections was associated with a 16% increase of IgG1 levels in the younger (less than 5 years) (p = 0.01) and with a 47% increase of IgG4 among the older age group (p = 0.03). Atopic history was associated with a 16% increase of IgG1 in the younger (p = 0.02). The findings of the present study provide an insight on the determinants and the clinical significance of IgG subclass levels among children.

Factors influencing serum immunoglobulin E levels in Greek children.

Serum levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) were determined by enzyme immunoassay in 414 Greek infants and children of both sexes, 1 month to 14 years old. The children were admitted to the "Aghia Sophia" Teaching Hospital for Children (Athens, Greece) for surgical corrections of minor anatomic abnormalities, but they were otherwise healthy. Statistical analysis was performed through multiple regression after logarithmic transformation of the immunoglobulin values. IgE levels increased significantly by about 80% per year up to the age of 5 years, without noticeable impact of age on these levels thereafter. History of allergic disease showed a significant positive association with serum levels of IgE in both younger (less than 5 years) and older children. History of frequent infections was positively associated with IgE levels, although the relation was statistically significant only in the older age group, IgE levels in Greek children appear to be higher than the corresponding levels of children living in northern Europe, but much lower than those of children in Southeast Asia, a fact that may reflect different exposure level during childhood to infections known to influence IgE levels.

Age patterns of immunoglobulins G, A & M in healthy children and the influence of breast feeding and vaccination status.

Serum levels of immunoglobulins G, A and M were determined by nephelometry in 414 infants and children aged 1 month to 14 years. The children were admitted to "Aghia Sophia" Teaching Hospital for Children for surgical corrections of minor anatomical abnormalities, but they were otherwise healthy. Statistical analysis was performed through multiple regression after logarithmic transformation of the immunoglobulin values. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels increased significantly by 18% per year until the age of 5 years and by 2% per year thereafter. Among children less than 5 years old, IgG levels tended to increase significantly with the number of doses of either DTP or Sabin vaccine. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels increased significantly by 27% until the age of 7 years and by 4% thereafter. Among children less than 7 years old, history of breast feeding was significantly associated with higher levels of IgA. Vaccination with either DTP or Sabin was associated with elevation of IgA levels among younger and, to a lesser extent, older children, but the elevations did not reach statistical significance. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels increased rapidly during the first 12 months of life and very slowly thereafter and they were significantly higher among girls. Among children less than one year old, there was evidence that vaccination with either DTP or Sabin was associated with elevated IgM levels, although the differences were not statistically significant possibly because of small numbers of infants in the study sample.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hyperbrachycephaly, short face, midface hypoplasia, fusion of cervical vertebrae, radiolucent bone defects, and severe destruction of periodontium--a new syndrome: craniofaciocervical osteoglyphic dysplasia.

A patient with an unusual combination of findings, which do not fit in any of the known syndromes, is presented. The patient, a 24.5-year-old male of normal growth and intelligence, manifests craniofacial dysmorphism, radiolucencies in the skull and in the cervical vertebrae, progressive alveolar bone loss and fusion of cervical vertebrae. The young man does not exhibit any other systemic, hematological, biochemical, chromosomal or immunological abnormality, except for IgA deficiency.

Immunological profile after splenectomy in children with beta-thalassaemia major.

The in vitro immune functions of peripheral blood lymphocytes have been studied in 12 children with beta-thalassaemia major and hypersplenism. The study was performed prior to splenectomy and on the 2nd, 6th, 15th and 30th day after splenectomy. It was found that before splenectomy, patients had low numbers of blood leucocytes, normal rosette and T3 lymphocyte counts, low T4 and normal T8 lymphocyte counts with a T4/T8 ratio below 2, impaired T lymphocyte mitogenic responses induced by PHA, increased numbers of polyvalent and monovalent B lymphocytes and normal immunoglobulin levels of IgG and IgA. After splenectomy, especially on the 2nd day, leucocytosis, a significant decrease of T cells and their subsets and a reduction of the IgM levels were found. These parameters, except the IgM levels, increased until the 30th day after splenectomy and reached presplenectomy values. On the 2nd day after splenectomy, large mononuclear cells behaving like immunocytes appeared in the peripheral blood. They had the phenotype of T3, T4, T8, B lymphocytes and OKM1 monocytes. All the large mononuclear cells increased significantly on the 6th day after splenectomy and remained elevated during the whole study (30 days). The T4/T8 ratio was increased, but no increase was found in the functional responses of T lymphocytes.