Factors Affecting Child Thymus Size and Involution
Authors:
I. Varga 1; V. Pospíšilová 1; F. Tóth 2; K. Bevízová 1; Š. Polák 1
Authors‘ workplace:
Ústav histológie a embryológie, Lekárska fakulta, Univerzita Komenského, Bratislava
prednosta doc. MUDr. Š. Polák, CSc.
1; Gynekologicko-pôrodnícke oddelenie, FORLIFE n. o. Všeobecná nemocnica, Komárno
primár MUDr. F. Tóth
2
Published in:
Čes-slov Pediat 2008; 63 (4): 209-214.
Category:
Review
Overview
The thymus is a central organ of immune system important for the development and maintenance of the cellular immunity. Thymus reaches the biggest size compared to the body proportions during early postnatal period of babies. Abnormal fetal growth during the intrauterine period may also cause disturbances of the thymus development and prenatal growth. The abnormal thymic development can result in its insufficient function postnatally. The thymus size of newborns can indirectly reflect the immune system condition and general susceptibility to diseases during postnatal life of children. During the prenatal and postnatal development the thymus is sensitive to many environmental factors such as an acute and chronic stress, malnutrition, infections or hormonal therapy. On the other hand the consumption of maternal milk has a positive effect to the postnatal growing and function of the thymus.
The present work brings a review of factors which could have effect to the thymus development, size and involution. The studies of relationship between the thymic size and the anthropometric parameters (head and arm circumference, birth weight and length) of physiological newborns are also demonstrated.
Key words:
stress-related thymus involution, ultrasonography of newborns, anthropometry of newborns
Sources
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Neonatology Paediatrics General practitioner for children and adolescentsArticle was published in
Czech-Slovak Pediatrics
2008 Issue 4
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