[A thymus extract (thymomodulin) in the prevention of childhood asthma].

41 children aged 2-12 years affected with bronchial asthma, have been treated orally with a thymus extract for three months (sep.-oct.-nov. 1980); a further period of treatment has been repeated during the month of March 1981. The following immunologic tests have been performed before therapy, 2 months after therapy withdrawal and 12 months after the second therapeutical discontinuance: plasmatic immunoglobulins (P. Ig), C3-C4 complement's factors, E-rosette forming cells (both active and total), surface immunoglobulins (IgS), PHA lymphocyte stimulation. Periodic anamnestic and clinical controls of patients revealed a significant reduction of asthmatic attacks during the months of observation, in comparison with the crises remarked in the same period of the previous year (the mean number of crises per child being 6 and 0.7 respectively before and after treatment, P less than 0.001). The immunologic tests, despite the clinical results, did not show significant modifications at the 1st control. Nevertheless the control carried out 12 months after the second therapeutical withdrawal demonstrated: IgG and IgM plasmatic levels significantly increased (1097 +/- 63 vs 906 +/- 45 and 122 +/- 10 vs 104 +/- 10 respectively, P less than 0.02) while IgE, C3-C4 plasmatic levels significantly decreased (232 +/- 57 vs 396 +/- 71, 132 +/- 6 vs 162 +/- 7, 22 +/- 2 vs 30 +/- 2 respectively, P less than 0.005). No side effects have been seen in all the patients treated.