SPECTRUM OF HUMAN TUBERCULOSIS

Abstract

Clinical, morphological and immunological studies of human tuberculosis enabled the spectrum of the disease to be determined. Cell-mediated immune responses were investigated by means of skin tests and leukocyte migration inhibition to PPD [purified protein derivative], and the humoral immune responses by means of immunodiffusion and hemagglutination tests. Patients with tuberculosis can be classified into 2 polar groups.sbd.reactive (RR) and unreactive (UU), the former showing good cell-mediated immunity and little or no antibody formation and the latter poor cellular responses and exuberant antibody production. The intermediate forms show characteristics of the neighboring polar groups.