[Interrelation between the peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotype and thyroid ultrasonic findings in children and adolescents exposed to the radiation as a result of the Chernobyl accident].

An immunological and ultrasound investigation was done in 57 children and adolescents having received irradiation of their thyroid gland (TG) from the Chernobyl accident and who were permanent residents in territories of radiation control. The group of comparison was formed of 30 children and adolescents who revealed normal echostructure and size of TG and resided in those territories not affected by radiation contamination. The peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotipical analysis in children and adolescents presenting with disturbances in echostructure and/or TG size suggest to us the presence of augmented expression of HLA-DR molecule on the surface of CD3+ T-cells, lower expression of CD62L, CD45RA molecules on the surface of CD4+ cells and changes in expression of CD57, CD28, CD38 antogenes on the surface of CD8+ cells. The above data serve to verify the hypothesis about relatedness of the state of the immune system to disturbances in echostructure and/or TG size and can suggest to us initiation and/or begining of realization of TG autoimmune disturbances in those children and adolescents having received 131I irradiation from Chernobyl accident.