Sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim: effect on antibody response in man.
The possible immunosuppressive properties of the combination sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim or either of the agents alone were studied in healthy human volunteers. The effect of the 4-day drug treatment on the antibody synthesis after vaccination was measured by titrating tetanus antitoxin,  mumps antibody and Salmonella Hb antibody levels 4 and 5 weeks after vaccination. No significant differences were found in mumps or Salmonella antibody titres in the drug-treated group compared to controls. Tetanus antitoxin levels, however, were significantly lower than in controls after the combined drug. When a fourfold or greater increase in tetanus antitoxin titre was obtained in 75% of controls, the respective figures were 38% in the sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim-treated group (p less than 0.05), 45% in the trimethoprim group (p greater than 0.05), and 50% in the sulphamethoxazole group (p greater than 0.05). The implications of these findings are discussed.
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008297:Male; D009109:Mumps virus / Q000276:immunology; D012475:Salmonella / Q000276:immunology; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin / Q000032:analysis; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin; D014295:Trimethoprim; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole