[Immune defense in hormone-dependent bronchial asthma]

The study was undertaken to examine the clinical and immunological features of hormone-dependent bronchial asthma. Long-term corticosteroid therapy was found to have a pronounced immunodepressive effect on both lymphocytic subpopulations and opsonophagocytosis. The sequelae of immunological disorders are lower anti-infective defense, which contributes to a more severe course of the disease generally running in the presence of chronic obstructive bronchitis. The use of immunomodulators, extracorporeal techniques, which favours to reduce the adverse immunosuppressive effect of long-term therapy, is an alternative to corticosteroid dosage increment.