title: [Immunological examination in patients with brain tumor and the usefulness of PHA skin test (author's transl)].
abstract: The usefulness of in vivo skin test reaction to phytohemagglutinin to assess cell-mediated immunity was investigated in 109 subjects, including 37 normal controls, 35 patients without brain tumor and 37 patients with brain tumor. Intradermal injection at forearm of 10 microgram of Bacto-phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) produced an erythema within 24 hours. Upon PHA skin reaction the mean diameter of erythema was 25.3 mm with the normal in the control and 18.6 mm with other diseases than brain tumor, while it was 13.0 mm with brain tumor. Furthermore when mean diameter of those with longer than 15.0 mm are classified as positive in the PHA skin test, the normal in the control revealed 89.2% positive and the patients with brain tumor indicated only 37.8% positive. A positive reaction was observed in 10 (77.0%) of 13 benign brain tumor and 5 (26.3%) of 19 malignant brain tumor. A correlation was found between in vivo and in vitro responses to PHA, and between PHA and PPD skin reaction. In repeated PHA skin test at intervals of about one month, the skin reaction to PHA of patients with brain tumor varied depending on the clinical states. Other advantages of this test are no presensitization and it can be used repeatedly. The PHA skin test is a useful and simple screening test for cellular immune function of patients with brain tumor and as a simple method applicable clinically indicating accurate immuno-reactivity the PHA skin tests have been carried out during the course of treatment with an interval of about one month repeatedly.
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000276:immunology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000276:immunology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000276:immunology; D005910:Glioma / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D010835:Phytohemagglutinins