RESUMEN
Thymus size was assessed ultrasonographically and correlated to the percentage of CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood in 32 infants with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and compared with 14 healthy control infants. The study revealed thymus atrophy in patients with PEM, especially the oedematous type, accompanied by changes in the peripheral lymphocyte subsets. These changes were reversible after nutritional rehabilitation. However, they may affect the immune status of PEM patients and may require a longer duration of nutrition rehabilitation than required for recovery of anthropometric measures. We recommend proper assessment of the immune functions of PEM patients during nutritional rehabilitation until full recovery.
Asunto(s)
Desnutrición Proteico-Calórica/sangre , Desnutrición Proteico-Calórica/diagnóstico , Subgrupos de Linfocitos T/metabolismo , Timo/patología , Antropometría , Atrofia , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/metabolismo , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/metabolismo , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Proteínas en la Dieta/administración & dosificación , Edema/etiología , Egipto , Ingestión de Energía , Femenino , Citometría de Flujo , Hospitales Pediátricos , Humanos , Lactante , Recuento de Linfocitos , Masculino , Evaluación Nutricional , Desnutrición Proteico-Calórica/complicaciones , Desnutrición Proteico-Calórica/inmunología , Desnutrición Proteico-Calórica/rehabilitación , Albúmina Sérica/metabolismo , Estadísticas no Paramétricas , Timo/diagnóstico por imagen , Resultado del Tratamiento , UltrasonografíaRESUMEN
Thymus size was assessed ultrasonographically and correlated to the percentage of CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood in 32 infants with protein-energy malnutrition [PEM] and compared with 14 healthy control infants. The study revealed thymus atrophy in patients with PEM, especially the oedematous type, accompanied by changes in the peripheral lymphocyte subsets. These changes were reversible after nutritional rehabilitation. However, they may affect the immune status of PEM patients and may require a longer duration of nutrition rehabilitation than required for recovery of anthropometric measures. We recommend proper assessment of the immune functions of PEM patients during nutritional rehabilitation until full recovery
