[Morphologic analysis of the thymo-lymphatic status in neonates and in early childhood].

Lesions of B- and T-systems as well as of suprarenal cortex were studied in a group of 31 children (at the age of 2 days till 3.5 years) suffering from thymolymphatic state and correlated with their basic disease. 25 cases were of a secondary type, 6 cases belonged to an idiopathic (primary) type. Secondary thymolymphatic state mostly occurred with inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system and was characterized by a B-system exhaustion, T-system activation and suprarenal atrophy. Idiopathic thymolymphatic state found in sudden and unexpected deaths was combined with variegated B-reactin and T-system activation. Insufficiency of immune reactions (morphological as well as functional) and suprarenal cortical atrophy could contribute to the cause of death.