Depression of cell mediated immunity in old age and the immunopathic diseases, lupus erythematosus, chronic hepatitis and rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Cell mediated immunity was assessed in man by summation of positive delayed hypersensitivity (DHS) responses to 5 test antigens, Candida, mumps, trichophyton, tuberculin and streptokinase streptodornase (Varidase). The study included 44 controls comprising healthy persons and hospital inpatients with minor illness, 45 aged persons, 24 patients with active chronic hepatitis (ACH), 9 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 14 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. For controls and the group with ACH, cell mediated immunity was assessed also by transformation of blood lymphocytes with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). The incidence of positive DHS responses to all antigens fell with advancing age, an..