Thymus size at 6 months of age and subsequent child mortality

TY - JOUR

T1 - Thymus size at 6 months of age and subsequent child mortality

AU - Garly, M.L.

AU - Trautner, S.L.

AU - Marx, C.

AU - Danebod, K.

AU - Nielsen, J.

AU - Ravn, Henrik

AU - Martins, C.L.

AU - Bale, C.

AU - Aaby, P.

AU - Lisse, I.M.

N1 - IS - 1097-6833 (Electronic)LA - engPT - Journal ArticlePT - Randomized Controlled TrialPT - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tRN - 0 (BCG Vaccine)RN - 0 (Measles Vaccine)RN - 0 (Thymus Extracts)RN - 130-95-0 (Quinine)RN - 54-05-7 (Chloroquine)SB - AIMSB - IM

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To examine determinants of thymus size at age 6 months and investigate whether thymus size at this age is a determinant of subsequent mortality. STUDY DESIGN: Thymus size was measured by transsternal sonography in 923 6-month-old children participating in a measles vaccination trial in Guinea-Bissau. RESULTS: Thymus size was strongly associated with anthropometric measurements. Boys had larger thymuses than girls, controlling for anthropometry. Crying during sonography made the thymus appear smaller. Children who were not vaccinated with Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) or were vaccinated with BCG in the preceding 4 weeks before inclusion into the study had larger thymuses. Children who had malaria or had been treated with chloroquine or Quinimax in the previous week before inclusion had smaller thymuses. Controlled for background factors associated with thymus size and mortality, small thymus size remained a strong and independent risk factor for mortality (hazard ratio = 0.31; 95% confidence interval = 0.18 to 0.52). CONCLUSIONS: Small thymus size at age 6 months is a strong risk factor for mortality. To prevent unnecessary deaths, it is important to identify preventable factors predisposing to small thymus size Udgivelsesdato: 2008/11

AB - OBJECTIVE: To examine determinants of thymus size at age 6 months and investigate whether thymus size at this age is a determinant of subsequent mortality. STUDY DESIGN: Thymus size was measured by transsternal sonography in 923 6-month-old children participating in a measles vaccination trial in Guinea-Bissau. RESULTS: Thymus size was strongly associated with anthropometric measurements. Boys had larger thymuses than girls, controlling for anthropometry. Crying during sonography made the thymus appear smaller. Children who were not vaccinated with Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) or were vaccinated with BCG in the preceding 4 weeks before inclusion into the study had larger thymuses. Children who had malaria or had been treated with chloroquine or Quinimax in the previous week before inclusion had smaller thymuses. Controlled for background factors associated with thymus size and mortality, small thymus size remained a strong and independent risk factor for mortality (hazard ratio = 0.31; 95% confidence interval = 0.18 to 0.52). CONCLUSIONS: Small thymus size at age 6 months is a strong risk factor for mortality. To prevent unnecessary deaths, it is important to identify preventable factors predisposing to small thymus size Udgivelsesdato: 2008/11

U2 - 10.1016/j.jpeds.2008.04.069

DO - 10.1016/j.jpeds.2008.04.069

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 18589444

SN - 0022-3476

VL - 153

SP - 683

EP - 688

JO - Journal of Pediatrics

JF - Journal of Pediatrics

IS - 5

ER -