Changes of immune globulin and complement in children with Epstein-Barr virus infection

Abstract

Objective To study the changes of immune function in children with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Methods 210 cases of EBV infection children were selected as observation group and 78 cases of children without herpes virus infection such as EBV infection were selected as control group. 210 cases of EBV infection children were grouped according to the different infection types [previous EBV infection, infectious mononucleosis (IM)] and different age [<3 years old, ≥3 years old]. The immune globulin including IgA, IgG, IgM, and the complement including C3, C4 were analyzed by immune scatter turbidimetry, which were compared between the two groups. Results 1. In previous EBV infection group, complement C4 decreased while IgA increased. IgG in IM group was higher than that in control group and previous EBV infection group, IgM was higher than that in previous EBV infection group, but there was no statistically significant difference in IgM compared with the control group. 2. In <3 years old group, IgA, complement C3 increased, which were significantly higher than those in the control group; while IgG, IgM decreased, IgG was significantly lower than that in the control group and ≥3 years old group. There was no statistically significant difference in complement C4 between <3 years old group and the control group, ≥3 years old group. IgG in ≥3 years old group was higher than those in the other two groups, IgA was higher obviously than that in the control group. 3. After the clinical symptoms improved, 3 cases of IM group re-viewed the indicators, decreased IgA, IgG and increased complement C4 could be found. Conclusion Compared with the older and previous EBV infected children, the immune function changed more obviously in the younger age, IM children. Key words: Epstein-Barr virus; Immune globulin; Complement; Child; Immune function