GUT INTRAEPITHELIAL LYMPHOCYTE COUNTS IN NEONATES, INFANTS AND CHILDREN

Intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) counts were histologically assessed i n the jejunum, ileum and appendix of 39 neonates (0-28 days), 32 infan ts (1-9 months) and 13 children (1-9 years). Small intestinal mucosa s amples were obtained from 73 autopsies, and from 8 surgical and 3 aspi rative biopsies. IEL counts of specimens from the jejunum, ileum and a ppendix gave similar results in the same patient. The number of IEL co unts was significantly lower in neonates for all three segments. The d ifference between infants and children was more marked in the jejunum than in the ileum, although this was not significant. In the appendix, there was no difference between the different age groups. Our results indicate that postnatal expansion of IEL occurs homogeneously along t he gut after the neonatal period.