DNCB sensitivity in healthy Pakistani subjects and patients with liver disease

Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity response using DNCB was studied in 51 apparently healthy Pakistanis and 60 patents with acute and chronic liver diseases. A Positive response was observed in all the healthy subjects, 22 out of 29 cases with acute viral hepatitis, 8 out of 22 patients with post-necrotic cirrhosis, one out of three cases of liver cancer and all the cases of alcoholic cirrhosis. It was postulated that hyperactive cell mediated immune response and a heavy exposure to hepatitis virus may be resonsible for the observed pattern of liver disease in Pakistan.