OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of milkvetch injection (MI) on immune function of children with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) after radical operation.

METHODSForty-children with TOF were divided into two groups, the 20 in the control group treated with conventional treatment alone and the 20 in the treated group treated with conventional treatment plus 15 ml of MI every 12 hrs for 14 days. Changes of immunoglobulin, complements, lymphocyte phenotypes and cytokines were observed.

RESULTSIn the treated group, the abnormally increased levels of IgG, IgM, C3, C4, CD8+ and CD19+ began to lower at lst-2nd week after treatment, and basically restored to the levels of normal at 3rd-4th week; while the decreased levels of IgA, CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, CD3+/HLA-DR+ and CD3+/CD16+ -CD56+ raised gradually from the 1st week and restored to normal range at 2nd-3rd week. The IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in the plasma and supernatant, produced in vitro by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) decreased gradually at 1st week and restored to the normal level at 3rd-4th weeks. The different value before and after treatment of the above-mentioned indexes in the treated group were superior to those in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONMI could significantly improve the immune function of children with TOF after radical operation.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; therapeutic use ; Astragalus Plant ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Complement C4 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Postoperative Period ; Tetralogy of Fallot ; drug therapy ; immunology ; surgery ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism