Lymphocyte subpopulations in hypertrophied adenoid in children.

Adenoid hypertophy is a common feature of childhood. It is currently accepted that it is caused by the antigen-stimulated increased activity of lymphocyte B (D. Bani, O. Gallo, O. Fini-Storchi, Intraepithelial lymphocyte subpopulations and dendritic accessory cells in normal and hypertrophic adenoids, Laryngoscope 10 (1994) 869-873). The adenoid decreases its size with age but the accompanying function alterations are not fully understood (L. Zawadzka-Glos, M. Chmielik, M. Wasik, Cell mediated response in hypertrophied tonsils in children, Nowa Pediatr. 4 (1997) 12-13). The understanding of the adenoid structure that undergoes some changes during the growth period is essential for evaluation of indications for adnoidectomy and assessment of its potential results. The aim of this study was to evaluate lymphocyte subpopulations in adenoid according to age. The analysed material was adenoids removed on the grounds of hypertrophy, which caused obstructive symptoms and/or otitis media with effusion onset. In the present study, we did not find any statistically significant differences among lymphocytes B, Th, and Ts subpopulations, respectively, in the adenoids of any of the age groups. We have found a statistically significant CD3(+) HLA-DR(+) cell percentage decrease in the group of children from 5 to 10 and above 10 years of age, respectively. We have also found a statistically significant increase in the percentage of NK (CD3(-) CD16(+) 56(+)) lymphocytes in relation to age. On the grounds of the current study, it may be stated that some changes in lymphocyte subpopulations in the adenoid take place with age.