The available information on ihe effects of iron deficiency on immune response is contradictory. The presence of infections, mclnulrition, differences of age between palienls and controls, and deficiences of nutrients other than iron complicates ihe interpretation of immunologicai results. Fifteen iron deficient anemic and eleven control infants without iron deficiency, all aged 1 5 to 19 months and without another nutritional deprivation neither infections were srocied to define the effects of iron deficiency anemia on cellular immune response. Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions to 2 -4 dinitrochloroben/ene and PPD and lymphoproliferative response to phytohemaglutinin were measurec in both patients and controls. No significant dilferences in the immune response were observed between bc'h groups before and after a three months treatment" wi;h 5 mg • kg • day elemental iron given as ferrous sulfate. These results suggest that mild iron deficiency anemia would noi impair cellular immune response.

Clinical and white cell counts response were evaluted in forty eight month old, well nourished infants, after the administration of an attenuated measles vaccine of the Schwaiz strain: fever was reported in 66.7% of them (temperature > 38°C), other symptoms were coryza (66.7^, cough (52.1 %», diarrhea (43.8^, rash (14.6^. Measles vaccine administration induced a drop in total leukocyte counts with increased absolute numbers of band cells.