The skin window test in rhinoscleroma.
The skin window test was applied to evaluate the state of immunity in patients with rhinoscleroma. The use of the patient's own Klebsiella micro-organisms as antigen led to a negligible change in the percentage of lymphoblasts, whereas the use of foreign Klebsiella micro-organisms as antigen resulted in a pronounced change. This finding indicates an impaired cellular immune response. Application of Klebsiella microorganisms as antigen to normal subjects led to a comparatively high percentage of lymphoblastic transformation. This finding suggests the possible use of a standard Klebsiella antigen as a vaccine. The possible use of the skin window test to identify people with deficient T lymphocyte function is discussed as well as its use in monitoring the efficacy of such a vaccine in influencing the cellular immune response.
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007709:Klebsiella / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D012226:Rhinoscleroma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D012884:Skin Window Technique
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial