Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (Mar 1990)
T cell-dependent immunodepression in vivo in Schistosoma mansoni infected patients
Abstract
T-cell function was evaluated in 29 patients with either hepatointestinal or hepatosplenic schistosomiasis by intradermal tests to recall antigens. Immunodepression was detected in 26% of the subjects with hepatointestinal schistosomiasis and in 50% of those with the hepatosplenic form. Cellular immunodepression was related to worm load and spleen size. This non specific T-cell immunodepression may represent a serious constraint to the elimination of intracellular pathogens both in hepatosplenic or hepatointestinal schistosomiasis.
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