Local antibody production and respiratory syncytial virus infection in children with leukaemia

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Children undergoing therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) are at increased risk of severe viral respiratory infection, and some find it difficult to terminate virus secretion. This increased severity may result from a defect in the mucosal immune response. To test this hypothesis, nasal immunoglobulin secretion and specific antiviral antibody responses to infection with respiratory syncytial (RS) virus in children with ALL have been compared with those in a normal age‐matched comparison group. Children with leukaemia secreted normal levels of IgA and slightly raised lgM levels. lgG levels were depressed. Following RS virus infection, the majority of children with leukaemia secreted normal amounts of lgA and lgG nasal antibody and successfully cleared the virus. However, three of the 13 children studied made poor or undetectable nasal antibody responses, which correlated with their inability to clear the virus.