Immunological abnormalities in HTLV-1 infected Jamaican children (abstract)

ABSTRACT

This paper reports on the immunological findings of a case control study of 50 infective dermatitis (ID) patients and 36 atopic eczema (AE) patients undertaken between December 1990 and August 1991. It also reports on a comparison of these results with those of age and sex matched normal controls, and age and sex matched HTLV-I infected asymptomatic children. Investigations of their immune systems showed that both ID and AE patients had normal responses to delayed hypersensitivity skin tests, and normal compliment levels. However there was a marked increase in the activity of both T and B lymphocyte systems, with all immunoglobulin levels being significantly increased in ID patients versus others. The CD4CD8 ratio was increased, with an increase in the CD4 counts. Monoclonal antibody tests showed increased T cell activation. The results confirm immune dysfunction though the precise mechanism of the immunodysregulation remains to be determined. (AU)