OBJECTIVE: Although frequently asymptomatic, C2 complement component deficiency may lead to severe pyogenic infections or lupus-like illness. In the present report, we describe infectious manifestations in infancy and childhood in our C2-deficient patients. METHOD: A retrospective study of clinical manifestation in three patients was carried out. C2 deficiency was proved both by undetectable serum C2 level and typical homozygous 28 bp deletion of the C2 gene. RESULTS: All patients were hospitalized at least once by the age of 12 months, each had one episode of meningitis in infancy, one also had arthritis with septicaemia. Infections of the respiratory tract were the causes of other hospitalizations. Two patients also suffered from frequent mild respiratory tract infections; in both patients, decreased immunoglobulin IgA and immunoglobulin IgG2 or immunoglobulin IgG3 levels were recorded. CONCLUSION: Our observations point to an early manifestation of C2 deficiency within the first year of life, with meningitis as the most severe complication. The severity of immunodeficiency may be influenced by concomitant deficiencies of immunoglobulin isotypes.

Bacterial Infections↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Cow milk-specific humoral and cellular immune response in infants with high risk of atopy under feeding a whey hydrolysate infant formula].

BACKGROUND: Hypoallergenic infant formulas (HAF) were developed for atopy prevention in infants with high risk of atopy if these cannot be breastfed. HAF mount an antigen-specific immune response in infants. The aim of the study was to analyse the immune response in infants fed with a new infant formula based on a whey hydrolysate (HAF) and to compare it with that of exclusively breastfed controls. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Plasma concentrations of cow milk-specific IgE were analysed in 94 infants with high risk of atopy, 44 were exclusively breastfed, 50 were fed with HAF. In addition, cow milk-specific IgG antibodies (26 breastfed, 30 fed with HAF) as well as proliferation of periph-eral blood mononuclear cells to bovine beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) (41 breastfed, 47 fed with HAF) were tested. Specific IgE and IgG antibodies were determined using enzymoimmunometric assay (Alastat). Cellular proliferation was measured using tritiated thymidine incorporation assay after 6 day stimulation with BLG. RESULTS: Elevated IgE to cow milk antibodies (> 0.35 kU/L) were detected in two infants from the breastfed group and in one from the HAF-fed group. The plasma concentrations of milk specific IgG antibodies in HAF-fed infants were insignificantly higher than those in breastfed ones. No significant difference was found in bovine BLG-specific cell proliferation between both groups. CONCLUSION: Concerning the properties investigated like antigenicity, allergenicity and immunogenicity, the extensively hydrolysed whey based hypoallergenic formula does not significantly differ from mother milk in 6 month-old infants with an increased atopy risk.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Progression of selective IgA deficiency to common variable immunodeficiency in a 16 year old boy.

A case report of a 16 year old boy in whom selective IgA deficiency progressed to typical common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is described. This boy with a history of frequent but not severe respiratory tract infections was referred to hospital because of severe pleuropneumonia and decreased levels of IgA (0.23 g/L), but normal IgG and IgM levels. Lymphocyte subpopulation determination revealed a decreased proportion of CD4+ lymphocytes (30%) and an increased proportion of CD8+ lymphocytes (32%), while CD3+, CD19+ and CD16+/56+ subpopulations were normal. During the subsequent 17 months a gradual decrease in IgG (ultimate level 2.23 g/L), IgA (< 0.05 g/L) and IgM (< 0.05 g/L) levels was observed, the decrease in IgM being the slowest reflecting a constant heavy chain gene order on chromosome 14. The observation supports the thesis of a close relation of selective IgA deficiency and common variable immunodeficiency.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Molecular biology basis of combined (T + B) primary immunodeficiency].

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Cytokines↗