Cellular Immunity in Guamanians with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Parkinsonism-Dementia

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Abstract
To test the hypothesis that host resistance factors may be abnormal in Guamanians in whom amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinsonism-dementia develop, cellular immunity was evaluated in both diseases and compared to that of Guamanians with other nervous-system diseases, normal adult Guamanians and non-Guamanians with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinsonism. Diminished responses to skin-test antigens, lymphopenia, diminished per cent and total T cells and, less frequently, decreased mitogen responses were seen in Guamanian patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinsonism-dementia but not in the other patient or normal groups.