[Deficiencies of interferon production in children].

Defective production of either alpha, beta or gamma interferon has been observed in association with severe infections, hematological disorders or immunosuppression. The secretion of gamma interferon can be used as a marker of T lymphocyte function in cases of qualitative T cell defects. In rare patients, a selective defect of interferon production is associated with severe of persistent infections and in some cases with polyclonal immunoblastic proliferation in the absence of other detectable immuno-deficiency. The secondary defect of natural killer cytotoxicity observed in such patients can be reversed by interferon therapy. This new approach to clinical investigation and therapy is likely to widen with the study of other immunoregulatory mediators.