Skip to main content
Archives of Disease in Childhood logoLink to Archives of Disease in Childhood
. 1975 Mar;50(3):220–224. doi: 10.1136/adc.50.3.220

Leucocyte function in children with kwashiorkor.

E U Rosen, J Geefhuysen, R Anderson, M Joffe, A R Rabson
PMCID: PMC1544509  PMID: 1147655

Abstract

A study of leucocyte response to infection, polymorphonuclear leucocyte chemotaxis and bactericidal activity, and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction in children with kwashiorkor was undertaken and compared with a control group. The results show that total leucocyte counts were depressed in children with kwashiorkor, and lymphopenia was not infrequent. NBT reduction was normal. Abnormal polymorphonuclear leucocyte chemotaxis and bactericidal activity, though frequently found in children with kwashiorkor, was shown to be dependent on infection and not on protein depletion per se. Therefore, apart from some impairment of leucocyte mobilization in the presence of infection, the qualtiy of polymorphonuclear function, as determined by the above techniques, appears to be normal in kwashiorkor.

Full text

PDF
220

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Altay C., Dogramaci N., Bingol A., Say B. Nitroblue tetrazolium test in children with malnutrition. J Pediatr. 1972 Aug;81(2):392–393. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(72)80319-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Chandra R. K. Immunocompetence in undernutrition. J Pediatr. 1972 Dec;81(6):1194–1200. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(72)80262-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Douglas S. D., Schopfer K. Phagocyte function in protein-calorie malnutrition. Clin Exp Immunol. 1974 May;17(1):121–128. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Freyre E. A., Chabes A., Poémape O., Chabes A. Abnormal Rebuck skin window response in kwashiorkor. J Pediatr. 1973 Mar;82(3):523–526. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(73)80137-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Geefhuysen J., Rosen E. U., Katz J., Ipp T., Metz J. Impaired cellular immunity in kwashiorkor with improvement after therapy. Br Med J. 1971 Nov 27;4(5786):527–529. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5786.527. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Kendall A. C., Nolan R. Polymorphonuclear leucocytic activity in malnourished children. Cent Afr J Med. 1972 Apr;18(4):73–76. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Mowat A. G., Baum J. Polymorphonuclear leucocyte chemotaxis in patients with bacterial infections. Br Med J. 1971 Sep 11;3(5775):617–619. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5775.617. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Park B. H., Fikrig S. M., Smithwick E. M. Infection and nitroblue-tetrazolium reduction by neutrophils. A diagnostic acid. Lancet. 1968 Sep 7;2(7567):532–534. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(68)92406-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Quie P. G., White J. G., Holmes B., Good R. A. In vitro bactericidal capacity of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes: diminished activity in chronic granulomatous disease of childhood. J Clin Invest. 1967 Apr;46(4):668–679. doi: 10.1172/JCI105568. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Rosen E. U., Geefhuysen J., Ipp T. Immunoglobulin levels in protein calorie malnutrition. S Afr Med J. 1971 Sep 4;45(35):980–982. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Seth V., Chandra R. K. Opsonic activity, phagocytosis, and bactericidal capacity of polymorphs in undernutrition. Arch Dis Child. 1972 Apr;47(252):282–284. doi: 10.1136/adc.47.252.282. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Sher R., Anderson R., Rabson A. R., Koornhof H. J. Standardisation of the nitro-blue tetrazolium test and factors affecting its clinical application. S Afr Med J. 1974 Feb 9;48(6):209–212. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Shousha S., Kamel K. Nitro blue tetrazolium test in children with kwashiorkor with a comment on the use of latex particles in the test. J Clin Pathol. 1972 Jun;25(6):494–497. doi: 10.1136/jcp.25.6.494. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Sirisinha S., Edelman R., Suskind R., Charupatana C., Olson R. E. Complement and C3-proactivator levels in children with protein-calorie malnutrition and effect of dietary treatment. Lancet. 1973 May 12;1(7811):1016–1020. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(73)90663-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Smythe P. M., Brereton-Stiles G. G., Grace H. J., Mafoyane A., Schonland M., Coovadia H. M., Loening W. E., Parent M. A., Vos G. H. Thymolymphatic deficiency and depression of cell-mediated immunity in protein-calorie malnutrition. Lancet. 1971 Oct 30;2(7731):939–943. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(71)90267-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Solberg C. O., Hellum K. B. Neutrophil granulocyte function in bacterial infections. Lancet. 1972 Oct 7;2(7780):727–730. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(72)92022-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Archives of Disease in Childhood are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES