Article Text
Abstract
Background Chronic tonsillitis is a common problem for pediatricians and otorhinolaryngologists.
The aim of our study was to evaluate and compare the humoral immunity in children and adults with chronic tonsillitis .
Subjects We examined 24 children and 13 adult patients with chronic tonsillitis.
Methods Immunologic examination included analysis of: total leukocytes; absolute and relative lymphocytes; C reactive protein (CRP), antistreptolysin O (ASO), rheumatoid factor; investigation of humoral immune factors: absolute and relative B lymphocytes, serum IgA, IgM, IgG, circulatory immune complexes, interleukin amount - IL-4, IL-8, IL-1β in blood serum.
Results Increasing level of the absolute lymphocytes amount (2.92 + 0.24; 2.2 + 0.11) (p = 0.04), interleukin - 8 (229.09 + 73.63; 35.05 + 14.64) (p= 0,047) and interleukin - 1 β level (191.19 + 68.44; 10.88 + 4.28) (p= 0,045) (p=0,045) were observed in children. Average indices of interleukin-8 and interleukin - 1 β in children is in 6.5 and 17.4 times higher than in adults.
Serum IgA level in adults was significantly higher than in children (1.36 + 0.16; 1.92 + 0.19) (p=0,038). An antistreptolysin-O titre in adults in comparison to children (162.5 + 45.53; 216.67 + 45.78) is higher in 1.4 times.
Conclusions Nonspecific defense factors play an important role in children with chronic tonsillitis, while in adults the main role is held by specific immune response. Comparative analysis of anti-inflammatory cytokine synthesis by immune competent cells in chronic tonsillitis proved the fact that in children it is much higher than in adults.