Abstract:Objective To explore the dynamic changes of T helper cell 1 (Th1)/ T helper cell 2 (Th2) and its influence on immune function in infant low weight and congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods Fifty-four children with CHD who were diagnosed and operated as CHD in our hospital from March 2018 to March 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. They were divided into pulmonary congestion group (n = 32) and pulmonary ischemia group (n = 22), and 32 children with other diseases who were treated in our hospital in the same period were divided into non CHD group. Serum interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were measured by double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in all children before treatment as well as children with CHD at the end of surgery, 1st day after surgery, 3rd day after surgery, and 7th day after surgery, and calculate the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio. Results Before treatment, the levels of IFN-γ and IFN-γ/IL-4 in lung congestion group were lower than those in non-CHD group (P < 0.05), and IL-4 was higher than that in non-CHD group (P < 0.05). IFN-γ/IL-4 was lower than that in lung ischemia group (P < 0.05); IFN-γ/IL-4 in lung ischemia group was lower than that in non-CHD group (P < 0.05). Compared with patients before surgery, IFN-γ, IFN-γ/IL-4 decreased at the end of surgery, 1st day and 3rd day after surgery (P < 0.05), and IL-4 increased (P < 0.05); compared with the end of surgery, IFN-γ, IFN-γ/IL-4 were increased on the 1st day, 3rd day and 7th day after operation (P < 0.05), and IL-4 was decreased (P < 0.05); compared with 1st day after operation, IFN-γ, IFN-γ/IL-4 were increased on the 3rd day and 7th day after operation (P < 0.05), and IL-4 was decreased (P < 0.05); compared with 3rd day after operation, IFN-γ, IFN-γ/IL-4 were increased on the 7th days after operation (P < 0.05), and IL-4 was decreased (P < 0.05). Conclusions In children with CHD, especially in children with pulmonary congestion, there is a relative imbalance of Th1/Th2 immune system function. The short-term change of IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio in the perioperative period of infant with low weight and CHD suggests that changes of IFN-γ/IL-4 function, which leads to the shift of immune function.