A study of different parameters of cell-mediated immunity in patients with active and chronic tuberculosis.

A study was carried out on cell-mediated immunity in healthy persons and patients with tuberculosis in order to extend the diagnostic capacity in tuberculosis. We studied the relation between baciloscopy and the state of specific cell-mediated immunity in vivo (Mantoux) and in vitro (leukocyte migration inhibition assay with PPD-RT 23 to evaluate specific cell-mediated immunity and PHA to evaluate nonspecific immunity) in 131 patients with active tuberculosis, in 63 patients with chronic tuberculosis, in 62 healthy persons and 10 individuals living with tuberculosis patients. The results demonstrate that the percentage of reaction was very low in both tests, being of no statistical significance the difference between patients with active or with chronic tuberculosis, although it was significant in the control group. In about half of the patients with active tuberculosis a positive baciloscopy could be observed; the percentage was much lower in patients suffering from chronic tuberculosis, the difference between the two groups significant from a statistical point of view. At the same time when we carried out an evolutionary study in 10 patients with positive baciloscopy, we observed a slight capacity of conversion of immunity when the baciloscopy was negative.