[Prevalence of hepatitis E markers in children].

AIM: Frequency of detection determination for past and current hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection markers in children with immune suppression, as well as children with normal immune status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The presence of HEV markers (anti-HEV IgG and IgM, HEV RNA) was studied in 609 sera samples of children with neurologic pathologies, 87 samples--from children with immune deficiencies, as well as 3122 samples from conditionally healthy children of 6 regions of Russia. The children were divided into 5 age groups. Anti-HEV IgG and IgM determination was carried out in EIA, HEV RNA--by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The frequency of detection of anamnestic anti-HEV IgG turned out to be significantly higher among immune-compromised. children compared with healthy children (5.7% against 1.4%, p < 0.05). Anti-HEV IgM, that testify to current or recent infection, were also detected significantly more frequently among children with immune-suppression (1.1-1.6%) compared with healthy children (0.25%, p < 0.05). HEV RNA was detected in 1 child with the absence of anti-HEV IgM and IgG. Nucleotide sequence analysis of HEV confirmed membership of this isolate in genotype 3, that is prevalent in non-endemic territories. CONCLUSION: The data obtained have demonstrated, that HEV-infection is prevalent among children in Russia and its course is, probably, asymptomatic in most cases. Immune suppression is a factor of increased risk of infection of children with HEV.

[Clinical trial of domestic drug polyoxidonium in secondary immunodeficiency]. / Klinincheskoe primenenie otechestvennogo preparata polioksidoniia pri vtorichnykh immunodefitsitakh vzroslykh.

AIM: To test clinical efficiency and immunocorrectives characteristics of polyoxidonium in patients with chronic bronchitis (CB) and chronic recurrent furunculosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 56 patients entered the trial; 13 with CB in remission, 22 with CB in exacerbation and 21 with chronic recurrent furunculosis. Clinical examinations and tests were made before polyoxidonium therapy and 2-3 days after it. Immunological tests consisted of determination of sub-population composition of peripheral blood lymphocytes, serum immunoglobulins and phagocytic activity of neutrophils. RESULTS: Polyoxidonium is an effective and safe immunocorrector. It has a strong influence on functional activity of blood phagocytic cells. CONCLUSION: Polyoxidonium treatment of CB and chronic recurrent furunculosis results in positive shifts in hematological and immunological indices. This allows to recommend it for treatment of acute and chronic infections.

[Common variable immunodeficiency in adults and problems of its immunotherapy]. / Obshchaia variabel'naia immunnaia nedostatochnost' u vzroslykh i problemy ee immunoterapii.

AIM: Clinicoimmunological study of adult patients with prevailing defect of humoral immunity, development of diagnostic criteria and treatment of this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical, immunological and microbiological examinations were made in 68 patients with defects of antibody formation. RESULTS: Total variable immunodeficiency (TVID), selective deficiency of IgA, congenital agammaglobulinemia, hyper-IgM-syndrome were detected in 74, 13, 10 and 3% of patients, respectively. TVID was frequently associated with respiratory, chronic ENT and gastrointestinal diseases, low CD4+ and high CD8+ levels. The response was achieved with combined therapy: antibacterial treatment + immunocorrection + differentiated replacement with plasma or immunoglobulins. CONCLUSION: In choice of immunotherapy of TVID patients it is necessary to consider parameters of immunogram. Intravenous administration of immunoglobulin preparations provided the highest effect in good safety.

[The clinico-immunological efficacy of the likopid treatment of chronic bronchitis patients]. / Kliniko-immunologicheskaia éffektivnost' lecheniia likopidom bol'nykh khronicheskim bronkhitom.

AIM: Elucidation of likopid effect on clinical and immunological pictures in patients with chronic bronchitis (CB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A trial of 52 CB patients in remission and exacerbation. 2 schemes of likopid treatment were used: 1 mg/day for 10 days (a course dose 10 mg); 10 mg/day for 6 days (a course dose 60 mg). Clinical and laboratory parameters, systemic immunity (measurement of lymphocyte subpopulations, levels of serum IgA, IgM and IgG, functional activity of peripheral blood phagocytes). RESULTS: The 10 mg and 60 mg courses of likopid produced prolongation of remission to 5-6 months in 66% of CB patients in exacerbation and in 80% of patients in remission, respectively. 10 mg of likopid in exacerbation and 60 mg in remission promoted normalization of functional activity of blood phagocytes. CONCLUSION: Likopid administration for CB in a 10 mg course dose in exacerbation and 60 mg course in remission prolongs CB remission to 5-6 months and promoted normalization of phagocytic functional activity.