ISSN:
1365-2133
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Thirty children with atopic eczema were compared with an equal number of age-matched healthy children. The mean peripheral blood T-lymphocyte level was lower in the eczema group (mean 1,197/mm2 as against 1,702/mm3; P= 0.003). This difference was abolished in vitro by thymosin, a thymic hormone extract.Positive correlations were found between eczema severity and: eosinophilia; hyperimmunoglobulinaemia E; but not T lymphopaenia.Thymosin-inducible T-cell (Ti) counts correlated with plasma IgE levels, suggesting that these Ti cells may be immature suppressor T cells. If this T-cell deficiency represents inadequate suppression of IgE responses, then a trial of treatment with thymosin appears to be warranted.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.1979.tb05575.x
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