[Immunological indices in the differential diagnosis of rheumatic and nonrheumatic carditis]

The cellular and humoral immunity was studied in 32 children with primary rheumocarditis and 34 children with nonrheumatic carditis. It is shown that there are no distinct diagnostic criteria of rheumatism form with a paucity of symptoms. This gave an impetus to develop a new method of diagnosis of the rheumatic process by means of preincubation of blood lymphocytes of the patient with a standard streptococcal allergen (dose: 0.1 ml, 30-40 mcg of protein) within 30 min. with subsequent realization of E-rosette formation reaction. Of diagnostic value was an increase of the relative content of E-rosette formation by 10% as compared with the control. The positive effect of this method as compared with determination of the antistreptolysin titer--79%. This allows to recommend wide introduction of the method in practical medicine.