Serum and Salivary IgE, IgA, and IgG4 Antibodies to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Its Major Allergens, Der p1 and Der p2, in Allergic and Nonallergic Children

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a public health problem with high prevalence worldwide. We evaluated levels of specific IgE, IgA, and IgG4 antibodies to the Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) house dust mite and to its major allergens (Der p1 and Der p2) in serum and saliva samples from allergic and nonallergic children. A total of 86 children were analyzed, from which 72 had AR and 14 were nonallergic healthy children. Serum IgE and serum/salivary IgG4 levels to Dpt, Der p1, and Der p2 were higher in allergic children whereas serum/salivary IgA levels to all allergens were higher in nonallergic children. IgE levels positively correlated with IgG4 and IgA to all allergens in allergic children, while IgA levels negatively correlated with IgG4 to Dpt and Der p1 in nonallergic children. In conclusion, mite-specific IgA antibodies predominate in the serum and saliva of nonallergic children whereas mite-specific IgE and IgG4 are prevalent in allergic children. The presence of specific IgA appears to have a key role for the healthy immune response to mucosal allergens. Also, specific IgA measurements in serum and/or saliva may be useful for monitoring activation of tolerance-inducing mechanisms during allergen specific immunotherapeutic procedures, especially sublingual immunotherapy

Manifestações clínicas em crianças infectadas pelo HIV na era HAART: um estudo seccional

The number of HIV infected children still grows gradually, becoming one of the five leading causes of pediatric death in the world. This study described HIV clinical manifestations in children from ages of 4 to 12 years who are in use of antiretroviral treatment or not. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, observational and quantitative study performed with HIV positive children patients of the Gafrée and Guinle Hospital (HUGG) and the Previdenciary Center of Niteroi (CPN), in the state of Rio de Janeiro – Brazil, during the year of 2005. After collecting data from medical charts, a descriptive statistical analysis was conducted, using simple frequency and χ² test. Sixty-three percent of the patients from HUGG and CPN were on HAART, and 48% showed no clinical manifestations (p=0.1376). The most frequently observed clinical manifestations were upper respiratory tract infection (6%) and herpes simplex (2%). The antiretroviral treatment (HAART) was successful in diminishing HIV related disease, contributing greatly to a better life style of patients in use of this therapy.O número de crianças infectadas pelo HIV ainda cresce progressivamente, tornando-se uma das cinco principais causas de óbito pediátrico no mundo. Este trabalho teve como objetivo escrever as manifestações clínicas da infecção pelo HIV em crianças de 4 a 12 anos com o uso ou não de tratamento anti-retroviral. O estudo foi descritivo, seccional, observacional e quantitativo, realizado com pacientes pediátricos HIV+, dos Hospitais Gafrée e Guinle (HUGG) e Centro Previdenciário de Niterói (CPN), no Rio de Janeiro, em 2005. Após coleta de dados por ficha clínica e consulta dos prontuários, realizou-se análise estatística descritiva por frequência simples, com o uso do teste χ². 63% dos pacientes do HUGG e CPN faziam uso de HAART, com 48% sem manifestação clínica (p=0,1376). As manifestações clínicas mais frequentes foram infecções das vias aéreas superiores (6%) e herpes simples (2%). Concluiu-se que a terapia anti-retroviral (HAART) fez as manifestações clinicas da infecção pelo HIV diminuírem, gerando uma melhoria na qualidade de vida desses pacientes

Serum and Salivary IgE, IgA, and IgG 4 Antibodies to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Its Major Allergens, Der p1 and Der p2, in Allergic and Nonallergic Children

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a public health problem with high prevalence worldwide. We evaluated levels of specific IgE, IgA, and IgG4 antibodies to the Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) house dust mite and to its major allergens (Der p1 and Der p2) in serum and saliva samples from allergic and nonallergic children. A total of 86 children were analyzed, from which 72 had AR and 14 were nonallergic healthy children. Serum IgE and serum/salivary IgG4 levels to Dpt, Der p1, and Der p2 were higher in allergic children whereas serum/salivary IgA levels to all allergens were higher in nonallergic children. IgE levels positively correlated with IgG4 and IgA to all allergens in allergic children, while IgA levels negatively correlated with IgG4 to Dpt and Der p1 in nonallergic children. In conclusion, mite-specific IgA antibodies predominate in the serum and saliva of nonallergic children whereas mite-specific IgE and IgG4 are prevalent in allergic children. The presence of specific IgA appears to have a key role for the healthy immune response to mucosal allergens. Also, specific IgA measurements in serum and/or saliva may be useful for monitoring activation of tolerance-inducing mechanisms during allergen specific immunotherapeutic procedures, especially sublingual immunotherapy