PPD TESTING AS A DIAGNOSTIC AID IN NON‐TUBERCULOUS MYCOBACTERIOSIS: Clinical and Immunological Investigations in 4 Children with Cervical Lymphadenitis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Four children suffering from unilateral cervical lymphadenitis with histopathological changes typical of mycobacteriosis were seen during a short time. None of the children had been BCG vaccinated. Mycobacteria belonging to the Myobacterium aviumintracellulare complex were isolated from excised lymph nodes in 2 of the patients. Intracutaneous tests with PPD [purified protein derivative] from M. tuberculosis were negative in all the children, whereas 2 children responded to each of 3 PPD prepared from atypical mycobacteria. Two patients were unreactive in all the skin tests. Lymphocyte transformation tests in vitro with a battery of various PPD indicated sensitization to atypical mycobacteria in 2 children, 1 of which was negative in the skin tests. All the patients had normal plasma Ig concentrations but 2 had low proportions of T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. One of these had reduced total numbers of T cells. Lymphocyte responses in vitro to phytohemagglutinin were normal in all the children. The results show that cutaneous and in vitro tests with a battery of different PPD have a place as diagnostic adjuncts in atypical mycobacteriosis. Immunological competence should be analyzed in such patients.

This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit: