Deficiency of IgG subclasses and IgA, and elevation of IgE in children with a past history of bacterial meningitis

SNPs in DNA repair genes associated to meningitis and host immune response

In vitro and in animal models, APE1, OGG1, and PARP-1 have been proposed as being involved with inflammatory response. In this work, we have investigated if the SNPs APE1 Asn148Glu, OGG1 Ser326Cys, and PARP-1 Val762Ala are associated to meningitis. The patient genotypes were investigated by PIRA-PCR or PCR-RFLP. DNA damages were detected in genomic DNA by Fpg treatment. IgG and IgA were measured from plasma and the cytokines and chemokines were measured from cerebrospinal fluid samples using Bio-Plex assays. A higher frequency (P<0.05) of APE1 Glu allele in bacterial meningitis (BM) and aseptic meningitis (AM) patients was observed. The genotypes Asn/Asn in control group and Asn/Glu in BM group was also higher. For the SNP OGG1 Ser326Cys, the genotype Cys/Cys was more frequent (P<0.05) in BM group. The frequency of PARP-1 Val/Val genotype was higher in control group (P<0.05). The occurrence of combined SNPs is significantly higher in BM patients, indicating that these SNPs may be associated to the disease. Increasing in sensitive sites to Fpg was observed in carriers of APE1 Glu allele or OGG1 Cys allele, suggesting that SNPs affect DNA repair activity. Alterations in IgG production were observed in the presence of SNPs APE1 Asn148Glu, OGG1 Ser326Cys or PARP-1 Val762Ala. Moreover, reduction in the levels of IL-6, IL-1Ra, MCP-1/CCL2 and IL-8/CXCL8 was observed in the presence of APE1 Glu allele in BM patients. In conclusion, we obtained indications of an effect of SNPs in DNA repair genes on the regulation of immune response in meningitis.

Immunoglobulin deficiency in children with a sudden overwhelming infection

BACKGROUND

A small percentage of previously healthy children develop a sudden overwhelming infection (SOI) that rapidly progresses and results in shock and, occasionally, death. Some of these children may have an undetected Ig deficiency.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of Ig deficiency in children with a SOI.

METHODS

A case series study was conducted in a university hospital and included 18 children who either died in the emergency room or required admission to the pediatric intensive care unit secondary to a SOI. Two age-matched control groups included children hospitalized to regular floor beds with an infectious process (infected control group) or a noninfectious process (noninfected control group). Serum left from the initial blood draw, before fluid resuscitation, was collected and stored at -70 degrees C. Total IgG, IgG subclasses, IgM, and IgA were assayed by rate nephelometry in a blinded fashion.

RESULTS

In the study group, one of six children under 1 year of age had low Ig levels in comparison with two of nine control patients. In those children over the age of 1 year, 8 of 12 patients (67%) had low Ig levels as compared with 2 of 19 controls (11%) by Fisher's exact test, P = .002. Of those patients with Ig deficiencies, three of eight had isolated IgG deficiency, two of eight had combined IgG and IgA deficiency, three of eight had combined IgG and IgM deficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

Children over the age of 1 year who present with a SOI have a significantly higher incidence of Ig deficiencies compared with age-matched controls.

Salmonella meningitis and multiple cerebral abscesses in an infant

The history of a 4-week-old infant with meningitis and multiple cerebral abscesses caused by Salmonella enteritidis is reported. Management included successful treatment with a prolonged course of antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, neurosurgical drainage and long-term immunoglobulin supplements. No adverse effects of joint toxicity were detected.

Recurrent bacterial meningitis in adults: a case series

Recurrent bacterial meningitis is rare and most commonly associated with an anatomical defect. We report on four adult cases that presented within a 13 month period. Anatomical or immunological abnormalities were found in three of the cases. Thorough investigations for an underlying cause should be carried out before the diagnosis of a chance recurrence is made.

Abnormal phagocytic function in children under one year of age

The action of white blood cells (WBC) against Proteus mirabilis was assayed in 22 children following meningitis or septicaemia and compared with that in control groups of: (1) adult volunteers, (2) children undergoing minor surgical procedures for non-infective conditions, and (3) children being investigated for suspected renal disease. WBC bacterial killing tests were normal in all 55 adult volunteers. Abnormal results were obtained in 11 of 22 (50%) children with meningitis or septicaemia, 10 of 21 (47.6%) children undergoing surgery and six of 13 (46%) children with suspected renal disease, thereby indicating that there were no significant differences in phagocytic function among these three groups. Of children aged 1 year or less, 75% had abnormal phagocytic function. The significance of this finding is discussed.

IgG2 deficiency in children with febrile convulsions: a familial study

The IgG subclasses were investigated in children with febrile convulsions (FC) and in their first degree relatives in the search for a selective immunological deficiency associated with FC and its occurrence in the relatives of affected subjects. The results of the study show lower IgG2 concentrations in FC patients than in controls. But it was not possible to demonstrate familial transmission of the IgG2 subclass deficiency, since it was present only in children with FC and tended to normalize in adulthood. The immunoglobulin subclass deficiency might be responsible for the recurrent infections connected with FC.

Determining the prognosis of childhood epilepsies by establishing immune abnormalities

When seizures develop in a child, an accurate prediction on outcome of the disorder can hardly be given. Literature indicating an association between seizure disorders and Immunoglobulin (Ig) abnormalities, HLA typing and the occurrence of anti-brain antibodies is shortly reviewed. It is argued that by determining such anti-brain antibodies, early ascertainment of prognosis in seizure disorders may be possible.