Abstract
THF, a partially purified Thymic Hormone, was shown to restore the impaired cell mediated immunity (CMI) and reduce the visceral complications in 4 children with acute leukemia and generalized varicella. Twelve children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) or lymphoma were treated with THF for generalized varicella infection associated with impaired CMI. CMI parameters were studied before, during and post THF therapy. It was found to increase significantly (two- to ten-fold) the number of peripheral blood lymphocytes, E-rosettes, response to ConA, PHA and intracellular cAMP in 11 children. The number of lymphocytes and E-rosettes increased from 700 to 6000 and from
250 to 5500 per Cu.mm respectively. All children recovered from the varicella infection, including two with severe bilateral pneumonitis, and all of them developed antibodies to V-Z virus. Similar results of the above mentioned CMI parameters were obtained in 6 additional immunosuppressed children with ALL & lymphoma, 4 of whom had severe pneumonitis. THF restored positive GVHR and skin tests in 8 out of 10 and 4 out of 9 children studied respectively. These observations suggest that THF may restore the impaired CMI in children with ALL & lymphoma and may be valuable as supportive therapy of severe viral infections.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zaizov, R., Vogel, R., Wolach, B. et al. 39 THE EFFECT OF THE IN IMMUNOSUPPRESSED CHILDREN WITH LYMPHO PROLIFERATIVE DISEASES. Pediatr Res 13, 954 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197908000-00055
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197908000-00055