Immunological studies on thromboangiitis obliterans

Using humoral immunity (gamma-globulin 18 cases, IgG, IgA, IgM each 30 cases, CH50, C3, C4 each 29 cases and CIC 31 cases), cellular immunity (E-RFC 68 cases, As 30 cases, SmIg, SmIgG each 18 cases, IMIT 30 cases) and immunopathological manifestations (light microscope, fluorescence microscope, transmitted electron microscope each 7 cases) as indices, we studied the immunological changes of "progressing", "remittent" and "stabilized" groups of patients with thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) in different stages. Humoral immunity indicated that gamma-globulin, immune complex and IgG were all increased; cellular immunity indicated that the rate of T cells and suppressor cells was declined, while that of B cells was elevated. Immunopathologically, under light microscope all the layers of involved vessels were infiltrated with neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes; under fluorescence and electron microscope, immune complexes were found in the involved vessel walls. Our preliminary results suggest that TAO is an autoimmune disease relevant to antigen-antibody complex.