PHA skin test-correlation with migration inhibition but not with peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) subpopulations....

Results of the PHA skin test correlate with prognosis of cancer patients (W. Wiktor-Jedrzejczak [17] ). However, its clinical interpretation is faded by not known character of this reaction. In the present study PHA skin test was performed on 50 subjects simultaneously with: 1. sealed capillary migration inhibition test in the presence of various concentrations of PHA; 2. E and EAC rosette tests for quantitation of T and B lymphocytes. Skin reaction to 1 microgram of purified PHA (Wellcome) was found to correlate with migration inhibition performed using suboptimal doses of PHA-P (Difco). -No correlation was found between leukocyte and lymphocyte absolute count and PHA skin test. Neither proportions nor absolute numbers of E+, and EAC+ and null cells correlated with PHA skin test. On several occasions the test persisted positive despite absence of lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients. -These studies further suggest that PHA skin test has certain characteristics similar to DTH reactions and that changes of the test do not simply reflect changes in PBL subpopulations.