[Evaluation of the drug lymphocyte stimulation test (DLST) with shosaikoto].
BACKGROUND
Our aim is to evaluate the significance of DLST by Shosaikoto.


METHODS
We clinically evaluated 3 cases of drug-induced pneumonia assumed to be caused by Shosaikoto, and we performed DLST of Shosaikoto for healthy controls, and compared the data with drug-induced pneumonia cases of Shosaikoto.


RESULTS
As clinical characteristics of 3 cases, 2 cases were positive for hepatitis C virus antibody, and 1 case was positive for DLST of Shosaikoto. The observed chest high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings showed hypersensitivity pneumonia (HP) pattern in all 3 cases. Prognosis was good in all 3 cases. DLST of Shosaikoto was positive in 27.5% of healthy controls. Stimulation index (S.I.) of DLST in drug-induced pneumonia cases increased depending on drug dilution density, compared to that of healthy controls.


CONCLUSIONS
DLST of Shosaikoto showed high false-positive rate. However, we may be able to distinguish the true-positive cases with the false-positive cases by comparing the S.I. of DLST according to drug dilution density.
Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical University. mnakayama723@yahoo.co.jp
Masayuki
M
Nakayama
Masashi
M
Bando
Tatsuya
T
Hosono
Hideaki
H
Yamasawa
Shoji
S
Ohno
Yukihiko
Y
Sugiyama
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C461320:shosaiko-to; D013936:Thymidine