[Microbiological and morphological findings in reactive lymphadenopathy]

An attempt was made by means of microbiological and histomorphological methods for diagnostic elucidation of reactive lymphadenopathies in 52 patients. The serological findings differed from those recorded from clinically intact individuals, in that they included not only increased prevalence of antibodies but also increased antibody titres to cytomegalovirus, influenza virus, and toxoplasma gondii. The dynamic of antibody titres against antigens specific of herpesvirus, influenza virus, and toxoplasma gondii were followed up and enabled positive detection in 11 of 18 patients of active infections with the above pathogens involved. Histologically, the lymph nodes affected were characterised by alterations reminiscent to Piringer lymphadenitis. While, in the course of bacteriological investigations, various bacterial species were isolated from lymph node tissue of 35 patients, direct morphological identification from lymph node sections failed to work. Immature sinus histiocytosis and an increase in phagocytosis activity were among the typical tissue findings.