Contribution of the interferon-gamma release assay to tuberculosis diagnosis in children and adolescents.

SETTING: As conclusive data on the performance of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) in paediatric TB are lacking, many guidelines do not recommend their use for TB diagnosis in this population in Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of an IGRA by investigating its concordance with the tuberculin skin test (TST) and the role of IGRAs in clinical management and treatment outcomes in children with TB. DESIGN: A historic cohort study was used to evaluate the performance of T-SPOT®.TB (ELISpot) and other tests, such as the TST, in paediatric patients with or without immunodeficiency who were under investigation for latent tuberculous infection (LTBI) or active tuberculosis (TB). RESULTS: Of 86 paediatric patients evaluated, 41 (48%) were immunocompetent and 45 (52%) immunocompromised. All patients underwent T-SPOT.TB, while 63 underwent both ELISpot and TST; test results were concordant in 50 patients (79.4%): 22/31 (71%) in immunocompetent (κ = 0.418, P = 0.02) and 28/32 (87.5%) in immunocompromised patients (κ = 0.526, P = 0.003). TB was diagnosed on the basis of the ELISpot result in 21% (18/86) cases; the contribution of the ELISpot assay was greater in immunocompetent patients than in those who were immunocompromised (13/41, 31.7% vs. 5/45, 11.1%, χ2 P = 0.038). CONCLUSION: ELISpot and TST results were moderately concordant in both groups of patients. ELISpot contribution was higher among immunocompetent patients than among immunocompromised patients.

Prospective evaluation of Streptococcus pneumoniae serum antibodies in patients with primary immunodeficiency on regular intravenous immunoglobulin treatment.

BACKGROUND: This is a prospective study that assessed pneumococcal antibody levels in PID patients under intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment using different brands. METHODS: Twenty-one patients receiving regular IVIG every 28 days were invited to participate: 12 with common variable immunodeficiency, six with X-linked agammaglobulinaemia and three with hyper-IgM syndrome. One blood sample was collected from each patient just prior to IVIG administration at a three-month time interval during one year. A questionnaire was filled in with patient's demographic data and history of infections during the study period. Streptococcus pneumoniae antibodies against six serotypes (1, 5, 6B, 9V, 14 and 19F) were assessed by ELISA both in patients' serum (trough levels) and in IVIG samples. RESULTS: Median total IgG trough serum levels were 7.91g/L (range, 4.59-12.20). All patients had antibody levels above 0.35µg/mL to the six serotypes on all four measurements. However, only 28.6% of patients had pneumococcal antibodies for the six analysed serotypes above 1.3µg/mL on all four evaluations during the one-year period. No correlation was found between IgG trough levels and pneumococcal specific antibodies. Eighteen of the 21 patients (85.7%) had infections at some point during the 12-month follow-up, 62/64 (96.9%) clinically classified in respiratory tract infections, four of which were pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: Pneumococcal antibodies are present in a high range of concentrations in sera from PID patients and also in IVIG preparations. Even maintaining a recommended IgG trough level, these patients can be susceptible to these bacteria and that may contribute to recurrent respiratory infections.

Rate of tuberculosis infection in children and adolescents with household contact with adults with active pulmonary tuberculosis as assessed by tuberculin skin test and interferon-gamma release assays.

Tuberculosis (TB) infection was evaluated in Brazilian immunocompetent children and adolescents exposed and unexposed (control group) to adults with active pulmonary TB. Both groups were analysed by clinical and radiological assessment, TST, QFT-IT and T-SPOT.TB. The three tests were repeated after 8 weeks in the TB-exposed group if results were initially negative. Individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) were treated and tests were repeated after treatment. Fifty-nine TB-exposed and 42 controls were evaluated. Rate of infection was 69·5% and 9·5% for the exposed and control groups, respectively. The exposed group infection rate was 61% assessed by TST, 57·6% by T-SPOT.TB, and 59·3%, by QFT-IT. No active TB was diagnosed. Agreement between the three tests was 83·1% and 92·8% in the exposed and control groups, respectively. In the exposed group, T-SPOT.TB added four TB diagnoses [16%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·6-30·4] and QFT-IT added three TB diagnoses (12%, 95% CI 0-24·7) in 25 individuals with negative tuberculin skin test (TST). Risk factors associated to TB infection were contact with an adult with active TB [0-60 days: odds ratio (OR) 6·9; >60 days: OR 27·0] and sleeping in the same room as an adult with active TB (OR 5·2). In Brazilian immunocompetent children and adolescents, TST had a similar performance to interferon-gamma release assays and detected a high rate of LTBI.

Immunophenotypic profile and increased risk of hospital admission for infection in infants born to female kidney transplant recipients.

Children born to female kidney recipients are exposed to immunosuppressive drugs during gestation. Little is known about their immune system at birth or in the long term. Twenty-eight children born to female kidney recipients and 40 full-term children born to healthy mothers were evaluated. T, B, NK, NKT, γδT cells were assessed by flow cytometry and functional evaluation of T and dendritic cells after in vitro activation was performed at birth and at 8 months of age. At birth, infants born to female kidney recipients showed lower numbers of CD4+ T, NKT and intense reduction of B cells (median cells/mm(3) , transplant: 153.7 X control: 512.4; p < 0.001). There was also a reduced percentage of activated CD8+ T and of CD4+ regulatory T cells. Activated memory and exhausted memory B cells showed higher percentages among children exposed to immunosuppressors when compared to control group. At 8 months, most immune alterations were no longer observed, but four children still had low numbers of some lymphocyte subsets at this age. Children born to female kidney recipients had 4.351 (95% CI: 1.026-15.225; p = 0.046) higher risk of hospital admission in the first months of life-some, with severe clinical manifestations-than those born to healthy women.

Bordetella pertussis infection in paediatric healthcare workers.

An increased incidence of pertussis has been observed recently in adults, and healthcare workers (HCWs) are considered a risk group for transmission to infants. Prevalence of recent pertussis infection was assessed in HCWs from a paediatric department of a tertiary care hospital in Brazil. Serum pertussis toxin IgG antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Of 388 HCWs included in the analysis, 6.4% had serology suggestive of recent infection. Medical residents [odds ratio (OR): 4.15; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.42-12.14; P = 0.009] and those working >40 h a week (OR: 3.29; 95% CI: 1.17-9.26; P = 0.024) had increased risk of pertussis infection.

Doctors' awareness concerning primary immunodeficiencies in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: PIDs are a heterogeneous group of genetic illnesses, and delay in their diagnosis is thought to be caused by a lack of awareness among physicians concerning PIDs. The latter is what we aimed to evaluate in Brazil. METHODS: Physicians working at general hospitals all over the country were asked to complete a 14-item questionnaire. One of the questions described 25 clinical situations that could be associated with PIDs and a score was created based on percentages of appropriate answers. RESULTS: A total of 4026 physicians participated in the study: 1628 paediatricians (40.4%), 1436 clinicians (35.7%), and 962 surgeons (23.9%). About 67% of the physicians had learned about PIDs in medical school or residency training, 84.6% evaluated patients who frequently took antibiotics, but only 40.3% of them participated in the immunological evaluation of these patients. Seventy-seven percent of the participating physicians were not familiar with the warning signs for PIDs. The mean score of correct answers for the 25 clinical situations was 48.08% (±16.06). Only 18.3% of the paediatricians, 7.4% of the clinicians, and 5.8% of the surgeons answered at least 2/3 of these situations appropriately. CONCLUSIONS: There is a lack of medical awareness concerning PIDs, even among paediatricians, who have been targeted with PID educational programmes in recent years in Brazil. An increase in awareness with regard to these disorders within the medical community is an important step towards improving recognition and treatment of PIDs.

Severe combined immunodeficiency in Brazil: management, prognosis, and BCG-associated complications.

BACKGROUND: Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is one of the most severe forms of primary immunodeficiency. The objectives of this study were to analyze the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of SCID in Brazil and to document the impact of BCG vaccine. METHODS: We actively searched for cases by contacting all Brazilian referral centers. RESULTS: We contacted 23 centers and 70 patients from 65 families. Patients were born between 1996 and 2011, and 49 (70%) were male. More than half (39) of the diagnoses were made after 2006. Mean age at diagnosis declined from 9.7 to 6.1 months (P = .058) before and after 2000, respectively, and mean delay in diagnosis decreased from 7.9 to 4.2 months (P = .009). Most patients (60/70) were vaccinated with BCG before the diagnosis, 39 of 60 (65%) had complications related to BCG vaccine, and the complication was disseminated in 29 of 39 (74.3%). Less than half of the patients (30, 42.9%) underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Half of the patients died (35, 50%), and 23 of these patients had not undergone HSCT. Disseminated BCG was the cause of death, either alone or in association with other causes, in 9 of 31 cases (29%, no data for 4 cases). CONCLUSIONS: In Brazil, diagnosis of SCID has improved over the last decade, both in terms of the number of cases and age at diagnosis, although a much higher number of cases had been expected. Mortality is higher than in developed countries. Complications of BCG vaccine are an important warning sign for the presence of SCID and account for significant morbidity during disease progression.

Assessment of nutritional status: vitamin A and zinc in patients with common variable immunodeficiency.

BACKGROUND: Patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) present with low antibody levels, impaired lymphocyte function, and chronic inflammation. Vitamin A and zinc are essential components of the immune system and can be redistributed in the body as a result of inflammation. OBJECTIVE: To compare levels of retinol, beta-carotene, and zinc in patients with CVID and healthy controls after evaluating a series of parameters for each participant. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of CVID patients and healthy controls matched for age and gender. All participants underwent a nutritional and laboratory evaluation comprising a complete blood count and determination of levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), soluble CD14 (sCD14), retinol, beta-carotene, and serum and erythrocyte zinc. RESULTS: We included 17 patients (mean age, 28.54 years) and 17 controls. Mean (SD) retinol levels were lower in patients: 1.99 (0.67) micromol/L vs 2.72 (0.96) micromol/L. Median beta-carotene levels were similar in both groups (0.30 micromol/L). Median serum zinc levels were 50.0 microg/dL (50-100 microg/dL) in the patients and 100.0 microg/dL (50-150 microg/dL) in the controls. Mean levels of erythrocyte zinc were lower among patients: 37.32 (10.51) microgZn/gHb vs 44.91 (7.67) microgZn/gHb in the controls. Median CRP levels were significantly higher among patients: 4.99 (0.15-34.51) mg/L vs 0.55 (0.17-6.06) mg/L. No differences in translocation marker levels were observed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: CVID patients had lower levels of retinol and zinc than controls. Since micronutrient deficiency could aggravate their disease and contribute to chronic inflammation, micronutrient status should always be assessed in patients with primary immunodeficiency.

Comparative study of the standard fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen (FAMA) assay and a flow cytometry-adapted FAMA assay to assess immunity to varicella-zoster virus.

A flow cytometry-adapted fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen (FAMA) assay to detect IgG antibodies against varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was developed and tested in 62 serum samples, showing 90.32% accuracy obtained from a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with a 0.9125 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.829 to 1.00) area below the curve compared to the result with standard FAMA.

Imbalance of naive and memory T lymphocytes with sustained high cellular activation during the first year of life from uninfected children born to HIV-1-infected mothers on HAART.

The immune consequences of in utero HIV exposure to uninfected children whose mothers were submitted to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) during gestation are not well defined. We evaluated 45 HIV-exposed uninfected (ENI) neonates and 45 healthy unexposed control (CT) neonates. All HIV-infected mothers received HAART during pregnancy, and the viral load at delivery was <50 copies/mL for 56.8%. Twenty-three ENI neonates were further evaluated after 12 months and compared to 23 unexposed healthy age-matched infants. Immunophenotyping was performed by flow cytometry in cord and peripheral blood. Cord blood lymphocyte numbers did not differ between groups. However, ENI neonates had a lower percentage of naive T cells than CT neonates (CD4+, 76.6 vs 83.1%, P < 0.001; CD8+, 70.9 vs 79.6%, P = 0.003) and higher percentages of central memory T cells than CT neonates (CD4+, 13.9 vs 8.7%, P < 0.001; CD8+, 8.6 vs 4.8%, P = 0.001). CD38 mean fluorescence intensity of T cells was higher in ENI neonates (CD4+, 62.2 vs 52.1, P = 0.007; CD8+, 47.7 vs 35.3, P < 0.001). At 12 months, ENI infants still had higher mean fluorescence intensity of CD38 on T cells (CD4+, 34.2 vs 23.3, P < 0.001; CD8+, 26.8 vs 19.4, P = 0.035). Despite effective maternal virologic control at delivery, HIV-exposed uninfected children were born with lower levels of naive T cells. Immune activation was present at birth and remained until at least 12 months of age, suggesting that in utero exposure to HIV causes subtle immune abnormalities.

A remarkable depletion of both naïve CD4+ and CD8+ with high proportion of memory T cells in an IPEX infant with a FOXP3 mutation in the forkhead domain.

IPEX is a rare X-linked syndrome, with immune dysfunction, polyendocrinopathy and enteropathy. We describe an infant who died at the age of 11 months after developing eczema, severe diarrhoea, diabetes, hypothyroidism, thrombocytopenia and four episodes of septicaemia. Immunophenotyping of peripheral blood at 8 months revealed normal CD3+ T, CD4+ T and CD8+ T cell numbers, with low NK and B cells. CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes showed remarkably low numbers and percentages of naïve cells and high numbers of memory CD4 and CD8 cells. At autopsy, an intense depletion of immune cells in thymus, spleen and lymph nodes was observed. No Hassall's corpuscles were found in thymus. Lymphocytic pancreatitis and intense villous atrophy with mucosal lymphocytic infiltration in small bowel were also seen. FOXP3 gene studies revealed a: C-->G substitution 3 bp upstream of exon 10, which prevents splicing between exons 9 and 10, likely resulting in a functionally altered or deficient protein. Florid clinical findings are usually observed in association of forkhead DNA-binding domain mutations. The intense depletion of naïve T cells we report suggest that depletion of immune cells might take place due to uncontrolled activation due to the absence of regulatory T cells.

Tetanus and diphtheria immunity in adolescents from São Paulo, Brazil.

Tetanus and diphtheria vaccines are of special concern in adolescents because boosters are necessary for adequate maintenance of protection and are often omitted. We assessed serum levels of tetanus and diphtheria antibodies in adolescents and their association with vaccination status. From May to October 2001, we evaluated the vaccination records of 208 adolescents aged 10 to 20 years in São Paulo, Brazil. Antibodies to tetanus and diphtheria were detected using double-antigen ELISA and vaccination records were analyzed according to the guidelines of the Brazilian National Immunization Program. All adolescents had received complete primary vaccinations against tetanus and diphtheria, but 23.1% of them had not received a booster dose in the last 10 years. All adolescents were immune to tetanus and 88.9% were fully protected (antibodies (3)0.1 IU/mL). One individual (0.5%) was non-immune to diphtheria and 86% were fully protected against the disease. Adolescents with up-to-date vaccination records had higher antibody levels than those with not up-to-date records for tetanus (0.763 vs 0.239 IU/mL, t-test: P < 0.0001) and diphtheria (0.366 vs 0.233 IU/mL, t-test: P = 0.014). Full immunity against tetanus (antibodies (3)0.1 IU/mL) was higher among individuals with up-to-date vaccination (93.1%) when compared to those with not up-to-date records (75%, Fisher's exact test: P = 0.001). All adolescents had received basic immunization in childhood and were protected against tetanus and diphtheria. However, these data indicate that more emphasis should be placed on the tetanus-diphtheria booster in order to avoid a decay in antibody levels.

Immunogenicity and tolerability of hepatitis A vaccine in HIV-infected children.

The immunogenicity and tolerability of hepatitis A virus vaccine was evaluated in a group of 32 children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and 27 children with seroreversion. After 2 doses of vaccine, 100% of children experienced seroconversion with good toleration of the vaccine. There were no differences in variation of virus load between immunized HIV-positive children and a group of 31 nonimmunized HIV-positive children with similar characteristics.

Varicella zoster antibodies in healthcare workers from two neonatal units in São Paulo, Brazil--assessment of a staff varicella policy.

Although frequently reported in the literature, a staff varicella policy is not standard in many hospitals even in developed countries. In the present study, we assessed varicella zoster immunity in staff from two neonatal units from hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil. Ninety-seven percent of all staff working in both units agreed to participate. A simple and cost-effective varicella policy was subsequently set up, based on costs and data from serology and a history of previous varicella infection. Our results confirm that a varicella vaccination programme can be implemented in a healthcare facility, even in developing countries.

Human serum beta2-microglobulin levels: correlation with total serum IgG and placental IgG transfer in HIV-infected and non-HIV infected individuals.

The acquisition of maternal immunoglobulin G (IgG) is fundamental to the immune defence of the neonate. The receptor responsible for IgG transfer across the human placenta has also been implicated in the maintenance of IgG levels in the circulation. beta2-microglobulin is part of the Fc receptor (FcR) that has recently been purified from the human placenta. In HIV infection, increasing serum levels of total IgG and beta2-microglobulin are observed as the disease progresses. Herein, we have investigated the correlation between beta2-microglobulin and total serum IgG levels in HIV-seropositive mothers and their term neonates (HIV group, n = 37), as well as in HIV-seronegative mothers and their term neonates (control group, n = 50). Serum maternal beta2-microglobulin was directly correlated with total serum IgG levels in HIV-infected mothers (r = 0.58; P = 0.0002), but not in healthy HIV-seronegative mothers (r = -0.20; P = 0.16). Maternal serum beta2-microglobulin was also inversely correlated with placental antibody transfer of total IgG in mother-newborn pairs from the HIV group (r = 0.38; P = 0.02), but not from the control group (r = 0.15. P = 0.31). These results seem to indicate that, in HIV infection, elevated serum beta2-microglobulin levels could be involved in maintenance of abnormally high total serum IgG concentrations; by interfering with the binding of IgG to Fc receptors at the maternal-fetal interface, they might also reduce IgG transfer. By contrast, in normal non-HIV infected individuals, serum beta2-microglobulin levels do not appear implicated in regulation of these two phenomena.

Localization of IL-4 and IL-4 receptors in the human term placenta, decidua and amniochorionic membranes.

There has been much recent interest in cytokine expression at the materno-fetal interface. Although T-helper 2 (Th2)-type cytokines have been described in the murine feto-placental unit, few studies have as yet been performed in human pregnancy. We have examined the production of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and expression of IL-4 receptors in the human term placenta, decidua and amniochorionic membranes. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that cytotrophoblast, decidual macrophages and both maternal and fetal endothelial cells consistently expressed IL-4, whereas syncytiotrophoblast and placental macrophages showed an inconsistent pattern between specimens. High- and low-affinity IL-4 receptors were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry at the same cellular sites as stained for IL-4, and detection of IL-4 receptors was also variable in syncytiotrophoblast. Reverse-transcribed-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis showed that both IL-4 and its alternative splice variant, IL-482, are produced both in placental villi and in amniochorionic and decidual tissue. Ligand-binding assays identified the presence, on isolated term syncytiotrophoblast microvillous plasma membrane vesicle preparations, of functional high-affinity binding sites for IL-4 with a Kd in the range 102-112 pM and an apparent receptor density in the range 99-102 x 10(8) sites/mg protein. Three human choriocarcinoma (BeWo, JEG-3 and Jar) and one amnion-derived (AV3) cell lines expressed IL-4 and both high- and low-affinity IL-4 receptors. The constitutive expression of both IL-4 and IL-4 receptors, together with the novel finding of the alternative splice variant IL-482 in the immediate tissues at the materno fetal interface suggest an immunobiological role for IL-4 in human pregnancy.

Placental transfer and maternally acquired neonatal IgG immunity in human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Transplacental transfer of specific IgG antibodies was studied in 46 pairs of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive women and their neonates and in 53 pairs of healthy HIV-seronegative mothers and their newborns. Neonatal and maternal sera were assessed by nephelometry for total levels of serum IgG and by ELISA for IgG antibodies to herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), measles virus, tetanus toxoid, streptolysin O, and Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular antigens. Placental transfer of IgG antibodies to VZV, tetanus toxoid, measles, streptolysin O, and S. pneumoniae was decreased by maternal HIV infection. Maternal levels of total IgG had an independent effect on transfer of antibodies to HSV, VZV, measles, and S. pneumoniae. Neonatal antibody levels to tetanus toxoid, measles, and S. pneumoniae were significantly lower in the HIV group. Both maternal hypergammaglobulinemia and maternal HIV infection may contribute to these low antibody levels at birth and thus lead to early infection in this high-risk population.

Maternally acquired immunity in newborns from women infected by the human immunodeficiency virus.

Maternally acquired immunity was studied in 16 pairs of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive women and their newborns, and was compared to 18 control mother-newborn pairs. The HIV-infected women had higher IgG levels than the control subjects, but no difference was observed between newborn samples, presumably due to the limited placental IgG transfer in the HIV group. A poor type 2 poliovirus antibody transfer was also noted in this group. The population of newborns lacking demonstrable measles antibodies was higher in the HIV group than in the control group, probably because many of the HIV-infected mothers lacked measles antibodies also. These results show that maternally acquired immunity may be affected to newborns from HIV-infected women, either because of low maternal serum antibody levels or deficient transplacental transfer. If so, the measles vaccine schedule should be revised for these children and the same should be done for future passive immunization regarding fetus protection in pregnant HIV-seropositive women.