IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDIES OF PATIENTS WITH ASBESTOSIS .2. STUDIES OF CIRCULATING LYMPHOID-CELL NUMBERS AND HUMORAL IMMUNITY

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  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 28  (2) , 268-275
Abstract
As part of an overall assessment of immunological function, several aspects of humoral immunity and circulating lymphocyte subpopulations were evaluated in a group of 26 patients with radiographic evidence of parenchymal asbestosis. Statistical comparisons were made between the patient group and a comparable group of 45 controls. Both the percentages and absolute numbers of circulating T [thymus-derived] lymphocytes were significantly reduced in the patient group compared with controls. Significant elevations of salivary secretory IgA and of serum IgA, IgG, IgM and IgE were noted amongst the patients compared with the controls. Non-organ-specific autoantibodies and cold-reactive lymphocytotoxins were present in high frequency in the patients'' sera. Neoplasms were detected in 4 of the patients. The possible significance of these findings is discussed.