Response to polysaccharide antigens in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the production of antibodies to polysaccharide antigens in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used the ELISA technique to measure the levels of IgG antibodies to serotypes 1, 3, 5, 6B, 9V and 14 of Streptococcus pneumoniae in 14 patients with ataxia-telangiectasia before and after immunization with 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine. Adequate response to individual polysaccharide can be defined as a postimmunization antibody titer equal to or greater than 1.3 microg/ml or as a minimum fourfold increase over the baseline (preimmunization) value. RESULTS: Six (43%) patients showed an absent response to all serotypes analyzed. Four patients showed adequate response to only one serotype, one patient to two serotypes, two patients to three serotypes and only one patient to four out of six serotypes analyzed. No patient had adequate response to all serotypes tested. Postimmunization pneumococcus IgG levels were higher than preimmunization levels to all serotypes analyzed, except for serotype 3. In spite of this, the mean postimmunization levels were lower than 1.3 microg/ml in all serotypes, except for serotype 14. Mean increment was less than four in all serotypes analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that patients with ataxia-telangiectasia are at a high risk of having an impaired response to pneumococcus, which may be one of the causes of recurrent sinopulmonary infections in these patients.

Response to polysaccharide antigens in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the production of antibodies to polysaccharide antigens in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia.PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used the ELISA technique to measure the levels of IgG antibodies to serotypes 1, 3, 5, 6B, 9V and 14 of Streptococcus pneumoniae in 14 patients with ataxia-telangiectasia before and after immunization with 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine. Adequate response to individual polysaccharide can be defined as a postimmunization antibody titer equal to or greater than 1.3 µg/ml or as a minimum fourfold increase over the baseline (preimmunization) value. RESULTS: Six (43%) patients showed an absent response to all serotypes analyzed. Four patients showed adequate response to only one serotype, one patient to two serotypes, two patients to three serotypes and only one patient to four out of six serotypes analyzed. No patient had adequate response to all serotypes tested. Postimmunization pneumococcus IgG levels were higher than preimmunization levels to all serotypes analyzed, except for serotype 3. In spite of this, the mean postimmunization levels were lower than 1.3 µg/ml in all serotypes, except for serotype 14. Mean increment was less than four in all serotypes analyzed. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that patients with ataxia-telangiectasia are at a high risk of having an impaired response to pneumococcus, which may be one of the causes of recurrent sinopulmonary infections in these patients.

Immunological evaluation of allergic respiratory children with recurrent sinusitis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate humoral immunity of allergic respiratory children with chronic/recurrent sinusitis. Twenty-seven allergic respiratory (persistent mild/moderate asthma and persistent allergic rhinitis) children (7-15-year old) with chronic or recurrent sinusitis were evaluated. Patients had symptoms and abnormal computer tomography scan even after two adequate treatments (long-lasting antibiotics, decongestants, and short-term oral corticosteroids). clinical examination, sweat test, total blood cell count, measurement of serum levels of: total and specific IgE, immunoglobulins (G, M, A), IgG subclasses, antibodies to Haemophilus influenza type b (IgG anti-Ps Hib) and pneumococcal serotypes (IgG anti-Ps 1, 3, 5, 6B, 9V, and 14) before and after active immunization (Act-Hib and Pneumo23, Aventis Pasteur SA, Lyon, France), Rubella neutralizing antibody titers and human immunodeficiency virus antibodies. Specific IgE to inhalant allergens higher than class III were observed in 24/27 patients. One patient had IgA plus IgG2 deficiency and other an IgG3 deficiency. Eight and 12 of 27 patients had IgG2 and IgG3 serum levels below 2.5th percentile, respectively. Immunological responses to protein and polysaccharide antigens were normal in all patients. Although our patients have been appropriately treated of their allergic diseases, they persisted with chronic/recurrent sinusitis and 60% of them had a documented osteomeatal complex blockade. In spite of the diagnosis of IgA plus IgG2 deficiency and an isolated IgG3 deficiency, in all patients an adequate response to Ps antigens was observed. Primary and/or secondary humoral immunodeficiency seems not to be the main cause of chronic/recurrent sinusitis in patients with respiratory allergic disease.

Pasaje transplacentario de anticuerpos IgG y subclases de IgG dirigidos contra antigenos de Escherichia Coli / Annual reports 1998 / Placental transfer of IgG and IgG subclasses against Escherichia Coli antigenns

E. Coli es uno de los gérmenes más frecuentemente aislado en sepsis y meningitis neonatal. La susceptibilidad a este germen se atribuye a la falta de anticuerpos protectores. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar el pasaje transplacentário de anticuerpos dirigido contra muestras de suero de madres y sus respectivos recién nacidos. El análisis se realizó por el método de focalización isoeléctrica asociada a transferencia de afinidad (affinity blotting). Observamos espectrotipos idénticos de IgG y subclases de IgG1 e Igg2 anti-E. coli en las muestras de madre y sus respectivos recién nacidos. Demostramos así el pasaje transplacentaário de anticuerpos específicos contra este germen

Comportamento imunológico (IgG, IgM, IgA) e complemento total (CH50) de recém-nascidos com fatores de risco para sepse precose : análise comparativa entre recém-nascidos com e sem infecçäo / Immunological behavior (IgG, IgM, IgA) and total complement (CH50) of newborns infants with risk factors for early onset sepsis : comparative analysis between newborns with and without infection

Com objetivo de verificar o comportamento imunologico do recem-nascido (RN) frente a um agravo infeccioso, estudamos 60 RN que apresentavam fatores de risco para infeccao precoce (ruptura prematura de membranas, amnionite clinica, ou infeccao do trato urinario) do ponto de vista infeccioso e imunologico. Todos foram classificados em tres grupos de idade gestacional : inferior a 34 semanas, entre 34 e 36 6/7 semanas e > 37 semanas. O diagnostico de sepse foi realizado atraves de criterios clinicos e laboratorias, incluindo-se entre os exames as dosagens de imunoglobulinas (IgG, IgM, IgA) e complemento total (CH50), obtidos do RN ao nascimento e no quinto dia de vida...