[Immunomodulatory treatment of lymphopenia after infectious mononucleosis]

Persistent lymphopenia of various intensity has been noted in 45% of persons who had a history of infectIous mononucleosis. The group consisted od 500 patients, (236 males and 264 females). In all of them the diagnosis of mononucleosis had been based on the characteristic clinical signs and symptoms and changes in the blood picture and confirmed by the non-specific and/or specific serologic tests. In 33 persons (10 males and 18 females) the total number of lymphocytes varied from 884 to 992 per 1 cmm, the distribution being as follows: B lymphocytes--146 to 198, CD4--482 to 645 and CD8--245 to 364 per 1 cmm. 18 persons (18 males and 10 females) were given thymosine (TFX) subcutaneously for 30 days in the dose of 0.02 g daily, the remaining 15 (7 males and 8 females) received 3.0 g of isoprinosine per day for the same period. The total lymphocytes count and that of B, CD4 and CD8 was performed before and after the treatment and then followed once a month until 180 days since the treatment had been started. The TFX therapy was repeated after 8-12 months since the end of the first course in 3 patients and that with isoprinosine in 4. The strategy and the examination pattern were the same as before, control examinations being performed every 6 months and final analysis was done after 5 years of follow-up. Among the 33 patients who received immunomodulating treatment, normalisation of the lymphocytes count appeared in 24 (64%). Among the 12 persons with less pronounced lymphopenia, who did not received any treatment, spontaneous normalisation appeared in 5 (40%). It may be therefore assumed, that in persons with the history of infectious mononucleosis with persistent marked lymphopenia, thymosine and isoprinosine may be used in the therapy as additional immunomodulators.