[Morphology of organs of the immune system in perinatally dying babies with autosomal trisomies].

Morphology of the immune system organs was studied in 13 babies with autosomal trisomies (Down's, Edwards', and Patau's syndromes) dying in the perinatal period and having no morphological signs of infectious diseases. The control group included 5 babies without congenital malformations and 12 babies with unclassified multiple malformations. Hypoplasia of the lymphoid tissue was demonstrated in autosomal trisomies (the relative weight of the thymus decreased 2-fold; the spleen, lymph nodes and the intestinal tract deficient in lymphocytes). In Down's disease hypoplasia was most marked; besides, a 3-fold increase in the average area of Hassall's bodies as compared with that in Patau's and Edwards' syndromes and in the controls was observed. Babies with congenital malformations of non-chromosomal origin had no significant differences in the condition of the immune system organs as compared with babies without malformations which indicates the influence of chromosomal pathology on the formation of the immune system in the intrauterine period.