Humoral and cellular immunity parameters in children with allergic diseases after COVID-19

Abstract

Background. Bronchial asthma (BA) combined with allergic rhinitis (AR) in children is the most common allergic disease in children. Viral infections are frequent triggers of exacerbations of these pathologies. Allergic diseases were originally thought to be risk factors for adverse clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. However, current studies on the incidence of COVID-19 in children with allergic pathology are inconsistent. The purpose of the work was to study allergo-immunological parameters in children with AD combined with AR after COVID-19 infection. Materials and methods. 52 children with bronchial asthma combined with allergic rhinitis after COVID-19 infection and 30 healthy children who were the control group were examined. We studied cellular immunity by subpopulations of lymphocytes, interferon status and blast-transformation reaction index in whole blood and humoral immunity (IgA, IgM, IgG) in serum. IL-4 level was determined in serum by ELISA. Allergological examination included evaluation of serum levels of total IgE and specific IgE-antibodies to domestic, fungal and pollen allergens. Results and conclusions. As a result of the carried out research in children with AD in combination with AR after undergoing COVID-19 infection, the imbalance of the main indices of immune system was revealed, which was characterized by decrease of cellular immunity, namely, the level of killer subpopulation, functional state of T-lymphocytes and induced production of IFN-γ. The disturbances in humoral immunity affected the production of IgA, a decrease in this index was observed. They also revealed increased total IgE, specific IgE-antibodies to domestic, pollen and fungal allergens, IL-4 level in blood serum.

Keywords

• bronchial asthma
• allergic rhinitis
• covid-19
• clinical and immunological parameters
• cellular immunity
• humoral immunity
• cytokines