Abstract
Four children with deficient thymus-dependent lymphocytes and normal parathyroid function are described. They had normal immunoglobulin levels and responded to antigenic stimulation. Delayed skin tests were negative and in vitro lymphocyte responses to PHA, C. albicans, and streptococcal M protein were deficient. Infections with C. albicans (three patients), atypical mycobacteria (two patients), and P. carinii (one patient) were documented. Treatment with transfer factor did not alter their clinical or laboratory findings. It is postulated that these patients presented a spectrum of thymic deficiency and that transfer factor was ineffective because of the absence of thymus-influenced lymphocytes.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 681-688 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | The Journal of pediatrics |
Volume | 84 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1974 |
Funding
From the Departments of Pediatrics, Children's Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University, and the Pritzker School of Medicine, the University of Chicago, the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute of A llergy and Infectious Diseases, and the Department of Human Development, Michigan State University. Supported in part by General Clinical Research Centers Program Grant MO I-RRO0199 and RR-305, and in part by Research Grant Al-O7854 from the National Institutes of Health. Presented in part at the Society o/'PediatricsR esearch meeting in San Francisco, Calif,, May. 1973. *Reprint address: The Children" s Memorial Hospital, 2300 Children's Plaza, Chicago, III. 60614. **Recipient of Career Development A ward I-K5-A1 -38899./~om the National Institutes of Health.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health