[Immunologic aspects of the pathogenesis of latent and seroresistant forms of syphilis]

Studies of the cellular and humoral immunity in patients with latent and seroresistant syphilis have revealed decreased content of T-lymphocytes and elevated levels of B- and antigen-reactive lymphocytes. Reduced T-cell level is due to a decrease of the T-suppressor subpopulation. Unlike latent syphilis, seroresistant form is associated with a complete disappearance of the theophylline-sensitive subpopulation, whereas T-lymphocytes are represented mainly by the theophylline-resistant (helper) subpopulation. Effective therapy of patients with seroresistant syphilis has normalized the counts of T- and B-antigen-reactive lymphocytes, and theophylline-sensitive cells appear in the blood. These data give grounds to prescribe immunostimulating therapy to patients with seroresistant syphilis.