T cell functions in infants and children with beta-thalassemia.

Thirty-five infants and children with beta-thalassemia major and 12 with beta-thalassemia trait were studied. Their ages ranged between 6 months and 12 years. Thirty-three were males and 14 females. Spontaneous rosette (E1-RFC), total rosette (E2-RFC), enumeration of T lymphocyte subsets using monoclonal antibodies (OKT3, OKT4, and OKT8), migration inhibition factor (MIF) assay and in vivo delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions were tested. Lower mean T cell population was present in thalassemia major but not the trait. The helper/suppressor ratio was decreased in patients with evidence of hypersplenism. Patients who had suffered from pneumonia or hepatitis manifested lower mean T cell count, depletion of helper cells and decreased helper/suppressor ratio. They also showed depressed delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity and MIF activity. Study of the cell-mediated immunity in patients with thalassemia might be useful to detect those who could be-more susceptible to infections.