SEQUENTIAL STUDIES OF LYMPHOCYTE RESPONSIVENESS AND ANTIBODY-FORMATION IN ACUTE BACTERIAL-MENINGITIS

Abstract

Lymphocyte transformation responses in vitro were studied in 8 patients with acute bacterial meningitis (in 5 due to Neisseria meningitidis). Sequential studies were done from 24-48 h after the 1st symptoms of infection to complete recovery. In all cases lymphocyte transformation was depressed during the acute phases of illness. The responses to microbial antigens were more affected than the responses to mitogens. The course of the lymphocyte responses to the causative microorganism showed no difference from the responses to other microbial species. A moderate shift towards increased sensitivity of the lymphocytes to lower doses of the causative microorganism was observed during the course of illness in 3 cases. In N. meningitidis infection a rapid rise was seen in the serum titers of complement-fixing antibodies and in the number of precipitating antibodies, whereas the rise in immunoglobulin concentrations was more prolonged. Characteristic patterns of elevation and return towards normal were found in the serum concentrations of the acute-phase reactants .alpha.1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin and orosomucoid. The lymphocyte transformation responses in vitro during severe bacterial infection are largely governed by non-specific factors, and studies of lymphocyte responses to microorganisms should always include other microbial species as controls.