[Local cellular and humoral immunity in pneumonia patients]

The paper reports a study of some local immunity factors in pneumonia aimed at specification of mechanisms inducing respiratory immunodeficiency and their effects on the disease course. Local cellular immunity of the lungs was studied by estimation of the total number of cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage, their viability, alveolar macrophages (AM), neutrophils, T- and B-lymphocytes, AM and neutrophil phagocytic index and number, receptor apparatus. The lavage IgA, IgM, IgG, lysozyme were estimated. It was found that local cellular and humoral immunity depend on clinicoetiological form of pneumonia. Cellular and humoral immunodeficiency was the greatest in staphylococcal infection. The role of cellular and humoral immunity dysfunction in the lungs in genesis of bronchoobstructive syndrome is specified. Recovery of cellular and humoral immunity in pneumonia reconvalescents is behind clinical recovery. Grave immunodeficiency in severe or lingering pneumonia may be a pathogenetic factor of chronic inflammation in the lungs. To evaluate functional condition of local immunity of the lungs it is valid to study cellular and humoral factors of local pulmonary immunity in bronchoalveolar lavage.