Hematological and serological aspects of Mediterranean kala-azar in infancy and childhood.

Some hematological aspects of Mediterranean kala-azar were studied with radioisotopical methods. The results showed that pancytopenia is due to increased destruction of circulating elements in the spleen, less in the liver, and not to a defect in production. The serological alterations are characterized by an increase of immunoglobulins, and in particular of IgG, IgA and IgM, which is recorded not only in the acute phase of the disease but also many years after recovery. An hypothesis to explain the persistent alterations of serum proteins is suggested.