Tetanus toxoid as an antigen for delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Infectious Disease

Background:

• Cellular immune function is crucial for diagnosing and managing various health conditions.
• Standard skin test antigens like Candida and mumps are commonly used to assess cellular immunity.
• The utility of tetanus toxoid (TT) as a skin test antigen for immune assessment requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of tetanus toxoid (TT) as a skin test antigen for assessing cellular immune function in hospitalized patients.
• To compare the response rates of TT with other common skin test antigens (Candida, mumps, PPD).
• To investigate the correlation between TT skin test responses and patient demographics, such as age.

Main Methods:

• Hospitalized patients underwent skin testing with four antigens: tetanus toxoid (TT), Candida, mumps, and purified protein derivative (PPD).
• Response rates for each antigen were recorded and compared.
• Patient age and immunization history were considered in the analysis.

Main Results:

• Candida and mumps antigens elicited significantly higher positive response rates compared to TT and PPD.
• A notable decline in TT skin test response rates was observed in older patients.
• Some patients exhibited positive TT responses while showing negative responses to other common antigens.

Conclusions:

• Tetanus toxoid (TT) is less effective than Candida or mumps antigens for evaluating cellular immune function in hospitalized individuals.
• The decreased response to TT in older patients suggests potential gaps in tetanus immunization.
• TT skin testing may offer insights into immune status and energy levels, with potential for conversion from negative to positive post-immunization.