Early Stage Impacts of Adenoidectomy With/Without Tonsillectomy on Immune Functions of Children Aged Less Than Three Years.

Objective: To evaluate the early stage effects of adenoidectomy with/without tonsillectomy on immune functions in children aged <3 years. Methods: Twenty-four children aged <3 years underwent adenoidectomy with/without tonsillectomy were included. The levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, and C4 were measured for humoral immunity, and the levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, CD56+, CD3+CD4−CD8−, and CD3+CD4+CD8+ T cells were measured for cellular immunity before and 2 weeks after the operation. Results: The postoperative levels of IgA, IgG, IgM, C3, and C4 were significantly increased compared with the preoperative levels (P < 0.05). The levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD56+, CD3+CD4−CD8−, and CD3+CD4+CD8+ T cells were increased, while the level of CD19+ was decreased in postoperative period compared with preoperative period. Compared with those in the control group, the preoperative levels of IgA, IgG, and CD3+CD4+CD8+ T cells were significantly increased (P < 0.05), while the levels of IgM, C3, C4 and CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD56+, and CD3+CD4−CD8− T cells were not significantly changed. The postoperative levels of IgA, IgG, C3, C4, CD3+CD4−CD8−, and CD3+CD4+CD8+ T cells were significantly increased (P < 0.05), while the levels of IgM, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD56+ T cells were not significantly changed compared with those in the control group. Conclusion: Adenoidectomy with/without tonsillectomy could stimulate the immune responses, which could avoid significant immune deficiency in a short period of time in children aged <3 years.