Defective leucocyte inhibitory factor (LIF) production by lymphocytes in children with kwashiorkor.

Production of the lymphokine leucocyte inhibitory factor (LIF) by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocytes was assessed in 25 children with kwashiorkor. Although the lymphocytes of 12 of these patients produced adequate amounts of LIF, the rest of the group failed to produce lymphokine after PHA activation. There was no correlation between the ability to produce LIF and the age, severity of malnutrition or any other clinical parameters assessed in these patients. This finding confirms the presence of defective cell-mediated immunity observed in a substantial proportion of kwashiorkor children.