Interferon production in children with respiratory diseases.

In 110 children aged between 6 months and 18 years the ability of leukocytes to produce the leukocyte interferon (IFN-alpha) in vitro was studied. The decrease or disappearance of IFN-alpha production was observed in some children with chronic or repeated respiratory diseases and in the majority of children who had been treated with prednisone. Increased production of IFN-alpha was found in a child with hypogammaglobulinemia and bronchopneumonia. In children affected by allergic or autoimmune diseases or bacterial infections IFN-alpha production was mostly normal. Age and sex had no influence on the production of IFN-alpha.