The Grade of Acute Thymus Involution in Neonates Correlates with the Duration of Acute Illness and with the Percentage of Lymphocytes in Peripheral Blood Smear

Glavina-Durdov, Merica; Springer, Oskar; Čapkun, Vesna; Saratlija-Novaković, Zana; Rozić, Damir; Barle, Miroslava

doi:10.1159/000069481

Cited by 40 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Some of the support for an association between inflammation and acute thymus involution comes from observational studies of human newborns [10,11,21] . In our sample, the inflammation marker that best discriminates between early and late/no thymus involution was fetal vasculitis/funisitis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thymus Involution and Cerebral White Matter Damage in Extremely Low Gestational Age Neonates

2006

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Background: Among newborns who die, those who have cerebral white matter damage are more likely than others to have thymus involution and low thymus weights. Objective: We sought to evaluate in a population of preterm newborns who did not die if those who developed a cerebral white matter damage (as defined by an echolucency) are more likely than others to have thymus involution as assessed on chest radiographs. Method: The 89 infants whose data were evaluated were born before the 28th week of gestation, had at least one chest radiograph within the first 2 days of life (to determine thymus size), and at least one cranial ultrasonogram to assess for white matter echolucency. Results: Eighty-five percent of these infants had a small thymus within the first 2 weeks of life. Median time to thymus involution in those born before the 26th week of gestation was 36 h, and in those born during or after the 26th week of gestation was 140 h. Infants who developed involution before the median time in their respective gestational age groups were classified as early involuters (group 1) and were compared to their peers with late/no involution (group 2). Infants with an echolucency were more likely to have had early involution than infants without an echolucency (89% vs. 44%) (p = 0.01). This relationship was not distorted by potential confounders. The echolucency odds ratio associated with early thymus involution was consistently above 8 in all strata of the sample. Conclusion: These results are consistent with the possibility that early thymus involution and neonatal white matter damage are not independent phenomena and may have common antecedents.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thymus Involution and Cerebral White Matter Damage in Extremely Low Gestational Age Neonates

2006

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“…33 An involution of the fetal/neonatal thymus has also been observed, 34 even in cases of subclinical CA. 35 The grade of thymic involution may be proportional to the duration of the inflammatory process, 36 and it has been associated with lesions of the brain white matter. 37 In addition, the bacterial products and the inflammatory mediators released during FIRS might induce myocardial depression in the fetus.…”

Section: Pathophysiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Chorioamnionitis and neonatal morbidity: current perspectives

Henríquez¹,

Rodrigo²

2017

RRN

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Abstract:The term chorioamnionitis (CA) is commonly used to refer to different clinical or pathological conditions characterized by an infectious and/or inflammatory process that affects primarily the chorioamniotic membranes, but also the amniotic fluid, vessels of the chorionic plate, and, eventually, the umbilical cord (funisitis) and the fetus. Its incidence is higher at lower gestational ages, and the main mechanism is believed to be the ascending bacterial infection from the maternal genital tract. It can be diagnosed by clinical criteria, amniotic fluid examination for inflammatory mediators, and/or isolation of microorganisms, or by histopathological examination of the placenta. CA is an important cause of stillbirth and is related to an increased incidence of premature rupture of membranes, preterm delivery, and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes such as early-onset neonatal sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis. An independent causal association to other neonatal morbidities is more controversial. The heterogeneity in the diagnostic criteria and in the operative definitions for morbidity makes comparison of studies difficult, and results are inconsistent. In addition, the intensity and duration of the process are usually not considered. For all these reasons, evidence-based recommendations for the management of mother and infant under these circumstances are difficult to establish, and clinical practice varies widely.

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“…Low number of lymphocytes in peripheral blood may indicate the involution of thymus in newborns with an acute disease 35 . However, Van Baarlen et al 36 have found neither a correlation between thymus size and the number of lymphocytes nor a correlation between thymus size and the size of other lymphatic organs in healthy children.…”

Section: Cd8mentioning

confidence: 99%

Association Among Size of Thymus, Anthropometric Dimensions and Number of Lymphocytes in Peripheral Blood in Newborns From Slovakia

Varga¹,

Toth²,

Uhrinova³

et al. 2009

Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub

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Aims:Thymus is the central lymphatic organ in humans with important endocrine function that is involved in maturation of immunocompetent T-lymphocytes. In our study we investigated the relationship among thymus size and the anthropometric dimensions as well as between thymus size and the number of lymphocytes in peripheral blood in full-term newborns.Methods: The examined group consisted of 212 full-term newborns from the region of Southern Slovakia. We examined birth weight, birth body length, head circumference and chest circumference. Thymus size was estimated by ultrasonography and it was expressed as Thymic Index. The number of lymphocytes in peripheral blood was determined from the number of total leukocytes and from the leukogram.Results: We have found a statistically significant positive correlation among thymus size and the body dimensions of newborns. The highest correlation with thymus size was found for birth weight (r = 0.409; P < 0.001) followed by birth body length (r = 0.368; P < 0.001), head circumference (r = 0.365; P < 0.001) and chest circumference (r = 0.340; P < 0.001). We have proven also a statistically significant positive correlation between the number of lymphocytes in peripheral blood and thymus size (r = 0.208; P = 0.039).Conclusion: Our results confirmed the findings of other authors about a close relationship of Thymic Index and basic body parameters in newborns.

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The Grade of Acute Thymus Involution in Neonates Correlates with the Duration of Acute Illness and with the Percentage of Lymphocytes in Peripheral Blood Smear

Cited by 40 publications

References 10 publications

Thymus Involution and Cerebral White Matter Damage in Extremely Low Gestational Age Neonates

Thymus Involution and Cerebral White Matter Damage in Extremely Low Gestational Age Neonates

Chorioamnionitis and neonatal morbidity: current perspectives

Association Among Size of Thymus, Anthropometric Dimensions and Number of Lymphocytes in Peripheral Blood in Newborns From Slovakia

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