CHANGES OF THE CELLULAR AND HUMORAL IMMUNITY IN PATIENTS WITH COLD AND CHRONIC SPONTANEOUS URTICARIA
Objectives. To estimate the condition of the cellular and humoral link of the immune system in patients with cold and chronic spontaneous urticaria. Material and methods. 126 patients of the allergological department of Vitebsk regional clinical hospital participated in the research: 47 patients with cold urticaria at the age of 47,0 (38,0-52,0) years and 79 persons aged 43,0 (28,0-51,0) with chronic spontaneous urticaria. The control group consisted of 38 healthy volunteers at the age of 42,5 (34,5-54,0) years. The research program has been approved by the ethics committee. In all patients prior to the beginning of their treatment on an empty stomach samples of blood were taken to determine the quantity and phenotype of leukocytes, the level of immunoglobulins. Phenotyping of the cells was conducted with the help of monoclonal antibodies CD19, CD23, CD3, CD4, CD25, CD8, CD69, CD203с (complex test systems for scientific and clinical researches «Bioskan-M1») using Cytomics FC 500 (Beckman Coulter Inc., the USA) cytometer. Results. The immune status of patients with cold urticaria in the exacerbation period was characterised by the decrease in the absolute quantity of CD3 <sup>+</sup> and CD4 <sup>+</sup> CD25 <sup>+</sup> lymphocytes of the peripheral blood. The immune status of the patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria in the exacerbation period was characterised by the decrease in the absolute quantity of CD4 <sup>+</sup> CD25 <sup>+</sup> lymphocytes of the peripheral blood, the increase of the relative amount of CD19 <sup>+</sup> CD23 <sup>+</sup> lymphocytes of the peripheral blood and the increase of the absolute quantity of CD203с of positive basophils. In patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria immunoglobulin M was within the limits of the population norm, but its concentration was higher than that in the group of healthy people. Conclusion. In patients with cold and chronic spontaneous urticaria in the exacerbation period of the disease the high degree deficiency of CD4 <sup>+</sup> CD25 <sup>+</sup> lymphocytes taking part in the development of bothtypes of urticaria was revealed.