Characterization of cellular immunity parameters in children with acute viral hepatitis A

Aim. To study the populational composition of lymphocytes and the specific features of production of
cytokines in children with acute viral hepatitis A (A VHA).
Materials and methods. 128patients aged 11 to 14 years who had AVHA, moderate AVHA being in
83.5% were examined. In 87.2% of the children, the disease was cyclic. The etiology of the disease
was verified by symultaneously detecting anti-HAV IgM (enzyme immunoassay) and by the presence
of HA V RNA (polymerase chain reaction) in the blood. Peripheral lymphocytes (CD) were phenotypes
in the indirect immunofluorescence test using monoclonal antibodies; cytokines were determined by the
enzyme immunoassay; serum p2-microglobulin was done by radioimmunoassay.
Results. The children with AVHA were found to have elevated levels of tumor necrosis p-factor, interleukin-ip (IL-ip), and IL-4 in the icteric period, as well as a decrease in their levels at convalescence. IL-6 was detected in individual patients only in the first 3 days of the icteric period. The peak
of A VHA was characterized by relative lymphocytosis, by decreases in the counts of T helper/inductor
cells and natural killer cells, by increases in the count of CD25 cells, convalescence, by preserved
lymphocytosis, by the increased levels of T lymphocytes that carry the markers CD3, CD4, CD8,
CD16, CD25, and CD95, and by higher toxicity of p2-microglobulin.

CD, viral hepatitis A, cytokines, ^-microglobulin, CD