Assessment of cluster of differentiation 4 and 8 among children with trisomy 21

Background Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic disorder with more probability of recurrent infections. Aim This study aimed to determine the differences in lymphocyte subgroups (CD4 and CD8) between DS children and to study the pattern and likelihood for recurrent infections and hospital admission due to infection. Patients and methods This study was carried out in the Genetic Unit of Alexandria University Children’s Hospital, Egypt. The study enrolled 61 individuals with DS. They were assessed for recurrent infections [including otitis media, pneumonia, upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), and gastroenteritis] and hospital admission due to infections. All patients were subjected to complete blood count and flow cytometric analysis for expression markers of T lymphocytes (CD4 and CD8). Results The authors found a statistically significant increase in the frequency of URTIs. In terms of the type of recurrent infection in DS, it was the highest for URTIs. A statistically significant decrease was found in CD4 in the DS patients. Nonsignificant correlations were found between CD markers and hospital admission. Conclusion An increase in the incidence and the recurrence of infections among children with DS, especially URTI, pneumonia and gastroenteritis, was reported in the present work. Children with DS showed decreased absolute CD4 and CD4/CD8 ratio less than normal values of similar children younger than 6 years of age. Also, normal or even increased levels of absolute CD8 were evident in children with DS.