Dinitrochlorobenzene contact sensitization in pulmonary tuberculosis

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pulmonary Medicine

Background:

• Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a significant global health concern.
• Cell-mediated immunity plays a crucial role in host defense against TB.
• Assessing immune function in TB patients is vital for understanding disease pathogenesis and treatment response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the immune status of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.
• To evaluate skin sensitization responses in active, treated, and untreated TB patients compared to healthy controls.
• To explore the correlation between clinical improvement and immune function in pulmonary TB.

Main Methods:

• Skin sensitization tests using 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) were performed on 45 untreated, 106 on-treatment, and 15 fully treated TB patients, alongside 55 healthy controls.
• The Mantoux test with purified protein derivative (PPD) was administered concurrently.
• DNCB sensitization levels were quantified and compared across groups.

Main Results:

• Healthy controls demonstrated robust DNCB sensitization (majority 4+).
• Untreated and active on-treatment TB patients exhibited significantly impaired DNCB sensitization compared to controls.
• Fully treated patients showed partial recovery of DNCB sensitization, though still lower than controls.
• All patient groups and controls showed high Mantoux positivity.

Conclusions:

• Pulmonary tuberculosis is associated with a degree of immunodeficiency, specifically affecting cell-mediated immunity.
• Immune function, as indicated by DNCB sensitization, gradually improves with clinical recovery from pulmonary TB.
• These findings highlight the impact of TB on the immune system and its potential for recovery.