Immunological functions in children years after recovery from protein calorie malnutrition (PCM) in their early infancy.

The immune functions were evaluated in 30 children, aged one year to 9 8/12 years, who had suffered during their early infancy from protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) as the result of intractable diarrhea. Twelve healthy children matched for age and sex served as controls. All 42 children responded normally to intradermal injections of tuberculin and candida antigens. The reduction of nitrous blue tetrazolium (NBT) by the polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) was normal. Apart from the lower concentrations of IgM in the post-PCM group--145 +/- 67 mg % as compared to 212.8 +/- 46 mg % (p less than 0.005)--no differences were noted in the other serum immunoglobulin and complement levels. The response to phytohaemagglutinins (PHA) in two different concentrations was significantly enhanced in the post-PCM group (p less than 0.05). The per cent of T cells in both groups was normal. The results of this study indicate that most immunologic parameters return to normal after a healthy nutritional status has been achieved, with the exception of some abnormalities in IgM production and lymphocyte reactivity to PHA. These need further investigation.