[T and B immune systems in hereditary extrapyramidal disorders]

The per cent and absolute numbers of lymphocytes T and B were calculated in 37 patients with hereditary diseases of the nervous system (torsion dystonia, hepatolenticular degeneration, idiopathic tremor) and in 22 donors. Reactions of active and full spontaneous complement-induced formation of rosettes and B cell detection with surface immunoglobulin receptors were used for this purpose. In all hereditary diseases a reduction was found in the number of lymphocytes and a rise in the ability of the lymphocytes for complement-induced rosette formation. The obtained data should be evaluated, probably, as a secondary immunodeficiency state determined probably by metabolic disturbances playing an important role in the pathogenesis of hereditary nervous system diseases.