RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To assess immune reactivity in men just released from a war prisoner camp. PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of 29 men from a group of 764 liberated detainees in war prisoner camp in Bosnia, 15 matched healthy control subjects, and pre-war historical control subjects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Report on immune reactivity parameters, such as lymphocyte immunophenotypes, natural killer cell and phagocyte function, serum cytokines, and hormones. RESULTS: Compared with control subjects, detainees had significantly lowered red blood cell count, hemoglobin mass concentration, hematocrit, total serum proteins, and albumin level, while the percentage and count of monocytes and non-segmented neutrophils were increased. Flow cytometry revealed a significant increase in percentage of activated lymphocytes, activated T lymphocytes, Tc/s lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and total HLA-DR lymphocytes. The absolute counts of activated lymphocytes and activated T lymphocytes were also significantly increased. The percentages of naive Th/i lymphocytes and the ratio of CD4:CD8 lymphocytes were decreased. The in vitro natural killer cell cytotoxic activity and phagocytic functions of ingestion and digestion were significantly depressed. Serum interferon, serum cortisol, and prolactin were also significantly lowered. Serum tumor necrosis factor was increased. CONCLUSIONS: Alterations in the main parameters of the immune system and depression of important immune effector functions may have resulted from the psychological stress, physical deprivation, and malnutrition experienced by these war camp prisoners during their detainment.