Immediate and delayed hypersensitivity in chronic dermatophytosis.
Delayed hypersensitivity (DH) to seven common antigens was examined in 38 men with chronic dermatophyte infections and in 20 controls. A similar percentage of the infected and the control groups reacted to four antigens. In addition to showing a low frequency of DH to trichophytin, the infected group also showed a significant reduction in their reactions to intradermal mumps skin test antigen and to a Rhus oleoresin patch test. Two members (5%) of the infected group were anergic to all tests. Patients with chronic dermatophytosis appear to have a relatively specific defect in DH to trichophytin, but their cell-mediated responses to other antigens may also be somewhat decreased. The subjects studied did not appear to suffer excessive morbidity from infectious diseases, other than dermatophytosis.
D000328:Adult; D002175:Candida / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003046:Coccidioidin; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009107:Mumps / Q000276:immunology; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D012882:Skin Tests; D013299:Streptodornase and Streptokinase / Q000276:immunology; D012251:Toxicodendron / Q000276:immunology; D014248:Trichophytin; D014374:Tuberculin Test
D003046:Coccidioidin; D014248:Trichophytin; D013299:Streptodornase and Streptokinase