P#03   Immune state of children with alopecia areata living in different radioecological regions of Belarus

TV Vorontsova, OO Yanovich, NA Gres, EN Shavrova, EI Kukharenka. Research Institute for Radiation Medicine and Endocrinology, Minsk, Belarus

Goal : The aim of investigation was to study the immune system of children with alopecia areata (AA), living in different ecological regions of Belarus. Methods : We examined 142 children (74 males / 68 females; mean age 10.3, SD: 0.34). Indices of cellular (T-cells, T-helper, T-suppressor) and humoral (B-cells, Ig A, M, G) immunity were studied. Forty healthy children of the same age were studied as a control group (21 males / 19 females). Results : In children with AA, relative number of CD3 lymphocytes were decreased compared with the control group (p<0.001). The significant decrease of relative and absolute number active T-lymphocytes was demonstrated (p<0.01). The analysis of the immune state in the groups has not shown any deviations in number of B-lymphocytes. The significant decrease of CD4/CD8 ratio was registered in children with AA (p<0.001). The mean concentration of immunoglobulins A, M, G was significantly decreased as compared to control group of children (p<0.001) Depending on living region, all children were divided into two groups: I group - from radio-contaminated area (n=67); II group - from uncontaminated area (n=24). In children living in contaminated area (group I) average level of relative number of CD3 was decreased compared to control group (p<0.001). At the same time, the level of this subset of lymphocytes in children group II did not differ from controls. Relative and absolute numbers of active T-lymphocytes in this group were also decreased compared to children of both control and group II (p<0.01). The changes of immunoglobulins A, M, G concentration were more pronounced in patients with AA living in contaminated area. Conclusion : These results show that immune system of children suffering from AA demonstrate depression of both cellular and humoral immunity. More significant changes were determined in children with AA living in regions contaminated by radionuclides.