Macdougall L G, Anderson R, McNab G M, Katz J
J Pediatr. 1975 Jun;86(6):833-43. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(75)80211-3.
Humoral and cellular defense mechanisms were evaluated in 20 children with iron deficiency anemia and in seven with latent iron deficiency. Serum immunoglobulin concentrations, salivary IgA, and total hemolytic complement were within normal range; C'3 concentration was increased. Tests of lymphocyte function showed impaired delayed hypersensitivity skin responses in vivo and decreased in vitro H-3-thymidine incorporation following stimulation with phytohemagglutinin and candida antigen. Tests of neutrophil function showed normal nitroblue tetrazolium dye reduction, decreased bactericidal function, and increased chemotactic activity. These abnormalities could be detected in latent iron deficiency before the development of clinical anemia suggesting that altered immunologic function was an early manifestation of iron deficiency. Normal results were obtained two to three months after iron therapy was begun. The clinical implication of these findings is disucssed in relationship to the reported susceptibility of iron-deficient children to intercurrent infections.
对20名缺铁性贫血儿童和7名潜在缺铁儿童的体液和细胞防御机制进行了评估。血清免疫球蛋白浓度、唾液IgA和总溶血补体均在正常范围内；C'3浓度升高。淋巴细胞功能测试显示，体内迟发型超敏皮肤反应受损，在用植物血凝素和念珠菌抗原刺激后，体外H-3-胸腺嘧啶核苷掺入减少。中性粒细胞功能测试显示，硝基蓝四氮唑染料还原正常，杀菌功能降低，趋化活性增加。这些异常在临床贫血发生之前的潜在缺铁阶段即可检测到，提示免疫功能改变是缺铁的早期表现。开始铁剂治疗两到三个月后结果恢复正常。结合报道的缺铁儿童易患并发感染的情况，对这些发现的临床意义进行了讨论。
