A Study of the Immunological Status of Patients with Dermatophytoses

Abstract

22 patients with Trichophyton rubrum infection were studied for some of their immunological parameters. The trichophytin skin test performed with commercially available Dermatophytin (Hollister-Stier) gave immediate positive reaction in 3 patients. All the other patients gave negative delayed and retarded reactions. In vitro response to PHA of the peripheral lymphocytes was significantly depressed in patients as compared to the controls. No relationship could, however, be established between the severity, duration or extent of the disease and the depression of the lymphocyte response. IgG and IgA were found to be within normal limits. IgM levels were significantly depressed which was probably artefactual in nature.

The Immune Response in Childhood Dermatophytoses. Die Immunantwort bei Dermatophytosen im Kindesalter

“…The proportion of cross reactions is similar to that obtained by other authors (12,19,20,21), indicating the existence of common components in the antigenic substances which do not enable us to diagnose a species response but do enable us to diagnose a group response, i. e., whether there exists, or has existed, an infection by dermatophytes.…”

Immunology of Surface Fungi Dermatophytes

“…However, they did find a general depression of lymphocyte responses to mitogens and nondermatophyte antigens in a few patients with chronic infections due to T. mentagrophytes. Abraham et al (1975) also found evidence of a general depression of T-Iymphocyte reactivity in patients with T. rubrum who had no delayed-type cutaneous reactions to "trichophytin. "…”

“…Their defective cell-mediated immune response therefore does not appear to reflect a primary immunodeficiency (Fudenberg et at., 1971;Bean and South, 1973). However, depressed T-cell reactivity to phytohemagglutinnin has also been reported in patients with chronic T. rubrum (Abraham et at., 1975).…”

“…Such antibodies may play a role in the secondary allergic eruptions which sometimes occur. Abraham et al (1975) found that IgM levels were significantly decreased in patients who had recurrent T. rubrum infections. Their patients had no delayed-type cutaneous reactivity to "trichophytin.…”

“…Patients with chronic T. rub rum infections frequently have a negative delayed-type or a retarded delayed-type reaction to "trichophytin" (Lewis and Hopper, 1948;Hanifin et al, 1974;Abraham et al, 1975). The retarded delayed-type reaction has been found in patients with dermatophytid eruptions (Cruickshank, 1966;Wood and Cruickshank, 1962).…”