Study of Serum Level of IL10, CD4, CD8 and Acute Phase Reactants in Thalassemic Children with Effect of Splenectomy

Abstract
Background: Thalassemia is one of the most common single gene disorders and widely distributed in the Mediter-ranean region and inherited as autosomal recessive disorders. Beta-thalassemia major has an increased risk for systemic infections, suggesting that a basic defect in the host defense is present.
Aim of Study: It was to study the level of (interleukin 10, CD4, CD8 subsets) in thalassemic patients and correlation with certain acute phase reactants and as well as effect of splenectomy.
Patients and Methods: The study was carried out on 40 children with thalassemia who attended to Hematology Unit, Pediatrics Department, Tanta University Hospital at the period from June 2016 to February 2017. Also it included 20 healthy children with matched age and sex served as a control group. All patients and controls were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination, routine laboratory investigations, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 ratio and interleukin 10 measurements.
Results: This study found that CD4 and CD8 are signifi-cantly higher in post splenectomised thalassemic patients compared with non splenectomised thalassemic patients and control group (p-value >0.05). While interleukin 10 was significantly lower in post splenectomised thalassemic patients compared with non splenectomised thalassemic patients and control group (p-value >0.05).
Conclusion: There are significant differences in immune responses among post-splenectomy and non-splenectomy thalassemic patients. There were significant higher level of CD4, CD8 and lower IL10 in the splenectomised thalassemic patients than non splenectomised thalassemic patients and controls. There were significant negative correlation between CD4/CD8 ratio and interleukin 10 (IL10). While there were no significant correlation between CD4, CD8 and interleukin 10 (IL10). There was statistically significant correlation between CD4, CD8 and serum ferritin.