Natural Immunity against Neisseria meningitides in beta Thalassemia Major: A Descriptive Study in a South-West of Iran
Abdolreza Sotoodeh Jahromi, Masihollah Shakeri, Heshmatollah Shakeri, Rahmanian Karamatollah
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ABSTRACT
Aim: Natural immunity to
Neisseria meningitides(NM) was evaluated in patients with beta thalassemia.
Then, the proportion of natural protective immunity was compared between
splenectomised and non splenectomised patients.
Methodology: All patients with
beta thalassemia major were enrolled in our descriptive study that was done in
Thalassemia Ward of the academic hospital at Motahari Hospital, Jahrom, Iran.
There was not any vaccination against Neisseria meningitides in Iranian
National Vaccination schedule. All patients were categorized to groups A (non
splenectomised) and B (splenectomised). Demographic data such as age and sex,
and time after splenectomy (month) were recorded by a questionnaire. The levels
of serum ferritin and serum anti meningococcalpolysaccharide capsule antigen
IgGwere determined by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay method. An IgG
antibody level of 2µg/ml or higher was named as protective immunity (natural
immunity) against N. meningitides. We used the independent student t, One-way
ANOVA and chi square test to compare the means and ratios between study groups.
For the data record and analysis, we used SPSS software version 16 (SPSS Inc.,
Chicago, IL, USA). A p-value less than 0.05 were considered as statistically
significant.
Results: Overall, 14.4% of
patients had natural protective MN specific IgG antibody (≥ 2µg/ml). The trend
of this protective immunity was insignificantly decreased with advancing age.
Sex, post splenectomy duration and serum concentration of ferritin was no
significant differences between immune and un- immune patients. The proportion
of natural protective immunity was 17% and 11.7% in non splenectomised and
splenectomised cases, respectively.
Conclusions:Our results showed a
lower natural protective immunity in patients with beta thalassemia major that
it was similar in splenectomised and non splenectomised patients. Thus seems to
be necessary that these susceptible patients vaccinate against NM.
Keywords: Neisseria
meningitides, protective immunity, beta Thalassemia, Splenectomy
ABSTRACT
Aim: Natural immunity to
Neisseria meningitides(NM) was evaluated in patients with beta thalassemia.
Then, the proportion of natural protective immunity was compared between
splenectomised and non splenectomised patients.
Methodology: All patients with
beta thalassemia major were enrolled in our descriptive study that was done in
Thalassemia Ward of the academic hospital at Motahari Hospital, Jahrom, Iran.
There was not any vaccination against Neisseria meningitides in Iranian
National Vaccination schedule. All patients were categorized to groups A (non
splenectomised) and B (splenectomised). Demographic data such as age and sex,
and time after splenectomy (month) were recorded by a questionnaire. The levels
of serum ferritin and serum anti meningococcalpolysaccharide capsule antigen
IgGwere determined by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay method. An IgG
antibody level of 2µg/ml or higher was named as protective immunity (natural
immunity) against N. meningitides. We used the independent student t, One-way
ANOVA and chi square test to compare the means and ratios between study groups.
For the data record and analysis, we used SPSS software version 16 (SPSS Inc.,
Chicago, IL, USA). A p-value less than 0.05 were considered as statistically
significant.
Results: Overall, 14.4% of
patients had natural protective MN specific IgG antibody (≥ 2µg/ml). The trend
of this protective immunity was insignificantly decreased with advancing age.
Sex, post splenectomy duration and serum concentration of ferritin was no
significant differences between immune and un- immune patients. The proportion
of natural protective immunity was 17% and 11.7% in non splenectomised and
splenectomised cases, respectively.
Conclusions:Our results showed a
lower natural protective immunity in patients with beta thalassemia major that
it was similar in splenectomised and non splenectomised patients. Thus seems to
be necessary that these susceptible patients vaccinate against NM.
Keywords: Neisseria
meningitides, protective immunity, beta Thalassemia, Splenectomy