T lymphocyte subsets changes and the intervention study of thymosin α_1 in elderly patients with recurrent respiratory tract infections

Objective To investigate the T lymphocyte subsets changes and the effects of immunologic function of thymosin α1 intervention on elderly patients with recurrent respiratory tract infections.Methods 46 elderly patients with recurrent respiratory tract infections were randomly assigned to receive thymosin α1(1.6 mg subcutaneous injection twice per week with 6 months of a period of treatment)combined with conventional therapy(treatment group,n=23)or conventional therapy(control group,n=23).All the patients received 6 months follow-up.The occurrence of respiratory tract infection and the changes of T lymphocytes subsets of the two groups were compared.Results After treatment,CD3,CD4 and CD4/CD8 in treatment group increased,while the CD8 decreased.The number and degree of respiratory infection in treatment group were less than those of control group(P0.01).Conclusion The prevention and curative effect of thymosin α1 on elderly patients with repeated respiratory infections is good,thymosin α1 can improve the immune function of T lymphocyte subsets.