DEPRESSED CELL-MEDIATED-IMMUNITY IN CHRONIC DERMATOPHYTIC INFECTIONS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. C131  (2) , 143-153
Abstract
The immune response was studied in 10 patients with benign dermatophytosis and in 5 patients with a severe affection. At the humoral level no deficiencies were observed in both groups. All patients showed a marked and constant increase in Ig[immunoglobulin]E level. Skin test response to various concentrations of antigens and studies of lymphocyte activation by specific and non-specific mitogens in vitro demonstrated a depressed cell-mediated immunity. This anergy varied, and there seemed to be a direct relationship between anergy and disease severity. Defective cellular immune reactions in dermatophytosis may be symptomatic of a lack of some humoral factor and do not necessarily reflect an intrinsic cellular defect. Among these 15 patients, 7 were brothers and sisters from 3 separate and unrelated familes, suggesting an autosomal hereditary influence.