Immune status of children with complications of BCG/BCG-M vaccination

Abstract

The objective of the study: to analyze certain parameters of immune status in children with complications after BCG/BCG-M vaccination.Subjects and methods. The immune status parameters were tested in 24 children who developed complications after TB vaccination such as BCG-ostitis, BCG-lymphadenitis. Lymphocyte population was assessed using flow cytofluorometry by Cytomics FC 500 (Bekman Coulter).The serum level of immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, IgM was tested by immunodiffusion in Mancini agar. The leukocyte phagocytic activity was tested using flow cytofluorometry (Cytofluorimeter Cytomics FC 500) with FITC-labeled staphylococcus.Results. Of the 24 children with BCG lymphadenitis or BCG ostitis, 22 (92%; 95% CI 73-99%) had abnormality in immune status.Of the 24 children, 7 had low CD3+ count, while 9 had an elevated level of CD3+ . The level of СD4+ was low in 4 children and elevated in 15 pediatric patients. CD8+ count was low in 21 children (88%; 95% CI 72-97%). 11 children had low СD16+ number, and it was elevated in 2 children. In 10 children, low level of СD16+ was combined with low level of CD8+ . 10 children had low СD19+ number, and it was elevated in 4 children. The leukocyte phagocytic index drastically decreased (down to 37%) only in 1 child, and in 23 children, it varied from 60 to 90%.IgG level was low in 13 (54%), and elevated in 2 (8%) children. IgA level was low in 6 (25%), and it was not detected at all in 8 (33.3%) children. IgM level was elevated in 4/24 (17%) children, while it was low in 1/24 (4%). In 8 children with no IgA detected, the IgG level was low in 5 of them, 3 had a normal level, and IgM level was elevated in 2 children, 6 children had a normal level of IgM. With IgA completely absent, 1 child had the normal level of IgG and IgM.