Altered cellular immunity and suppressor cell activity in patients with primary retinitis pigmentosa.

A group of 54 patients with primary retinitis pigmentosa were studied and the following findings are described: response of lymphocytes to stimulation by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA); response of lymphocytes to stimulation by xenogenic retinal extract; distribution of T and T-active lymphoid populations; total suppressor activity induced by concanavalin-A (con-A). The results obtained showed a reduction in the response to PHA (p less than 0.05), a positive response of 26/45 (p less than 0.001) to stimulation by retinal extract, a reduction in the T and T-active lymphoid populations (p less than 0.01), (p less than 0.01), and a diminished total suppressor activity induced by con-A (p less than 0.01). This alterations of immune cellular responses and the diminished suppressor activity in the group of patients, in comparison with a control group of healthy subjects, seems to indicate the existence of an immune process of disregulation (autoimmunity?) in the pathology of primary retinitis pigmentosa.

[Therapy with transfer factor in a case of recidivating herpes with polymorphous erythema]. / Terapia con transfer factor en un caso de herpes recidivante con eritema polimorfo.

A young woman had recidivating herpes with erythema multiforme for several years. When conventional therapy failed to correct this condition she was treated with Transfer Factor (TF). Immunologic anomalies which had been registered previously became normal after the first application of TF. The skin lesions disappeared after the fourth dose. Six months later a new skin manifestation with immunologic alterations became apparent. They disappeared after two doses of TF. A year and a half later the patient has no lesions and the immunologic parameters, which were monitored throughout this period, are normal.

In vitro stimulation of lymphocytes in patients with chronic urticaria induced by additives and food.

We studied the stimulation of lymphocytes in 258 patients with urticaria and/or angioedema using a series of food extracts and additives. Of this group, 238 revealed a positive response index (RI). There was a positive RI to additives in 18.4% of the cases, to food extracts in 35.2% and to both extracts and additives in 46.6% of the cases. A positive RI to both aspirin and tartrazine was revealed in 25% and to all the additives tested in 11% of the cases. Diets from which food extracts and additives were excluded achieved total remission in 159 (61.1%), partial remission in fifty-seven cases (22%) and no remission in forty-two (16.2).

In vitro response of lymphocytes in patients with allergic tension-fatigue syndrome.

The authors studied the stimulation of lymphocytes in 44 patients with histories of allergic tension-fatigue syndrome using a series of food extracts and additives. Of a total of 44 patients studied, 42 produced a positive response (RI), 18.1% produced a positive response to additives, 40.9% to food and 36.6% to both. The elimination diets prescribed in accordance with the in vitro results obtained produced a total remission of the tension-fatigue syndrome in 38 patients (86.3%), partial remission in two (4.5%) and no change in four (9.0%).

T-lymphocytes and nonspecific T-suppressor activity in patients with extrinsic asthma.

The authors studied the distribution of T-lymphocytes (T-Et and T-Ea) and the nonspecific T-suppressor activity induced by ConA in a group of 104 patients (adults and children) with extrinsic asthma. Comparison with the control group revealed a diminution in the T-Et population (p less than 0.01), no significant change in the T-Ea population and a diminished nonspecific T-suppressor activity (p less than 0.001). The possible role of the T functional deficiency in the development of allergic diathesis is discussed.

Allergy to penicillin. Comparison of "in vivo" and "in vitro" tests.

Skin tests (SKT) and Lymphocyte Transformation Test (LTT) utilizing sodium penicillin G (PNG) and penicilloyl polylysine (PPL) and Rast to penicilloyl G were carried out on forty patients with a history of allergic reactions to penicillin, the results obtained indicated no statistically significant difference between the use of SKT or LTT in the diagnosis of allergy to penicillin (X2, p > 0,05), while the use of Rast showed a statistically significant difference (X2, p < 0,001) in favour of LTT and SKT. The use of either type of allergen (PNG or PPL) in LTT or SKT showed a significant difference in favour of the former (X2, p < 0,01).

An in vitro study of lymphocytes in patients with atopic dermatitis.

The authors studied the T- and B-lymphocyte sub-populations, the stimulation of the lymphocytes with phytohaemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen, the non-specific T suppressor activity and the amounts of serum IgE in a group of thirty-four patients with atopic dermatitis. Comparison with a group of 100 healthy controls revealed a diminution in the T sub-population, an increase in the B sub-population, no change in the response index to stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin or pokeweed mitogen, a diminished T-suppressor activity and an increase in the level of serum IgE.