| Abstrakt: |
Since there is evidence for an increased incidence of infection in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, a study was performed to determine whether or not impairment of delayed hypersensitivity reaction was a contributory factor. Fifty consecutive patients with alcoholic cirrhosis were studied. The dermal antigens employed were DNCB (2,4-dinitro-1-chlorobenzene), PPD, histoplasmin, streptokinase-streptodornase, coccidioidin and candida. Thirty-two percent of the patients could not be sensitized to DNCB, in contrast to an expected number of 5% in control groups (X2>9,P<0.01). Of the 50 patients tested, 7 reacted negatively to all the antigens including DNCB. No significant difference in reaction was found between the patients and the controls for coccidioidin, histoplasmin, PPD, candida or streptokinase-streptodornase. This evidence indicates that there is a partial impairment of the delayed hypersensitivity reaction in some patients with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, and complete impairment to the antigens employed in a lesser number. |
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