[Migration inhibition factor in patients with rare pulmonary diseases (author's transl)]

In 98 cases of pulmonary diseases (active and inactive sarcoidosis, idiopathic interstitial lung fibrosis [Hamman-Rich], collagenous diseases, Goodpasture syndrome, alveolar lipoid proteinosis, malignant lymphogranulomatosis and bronchial carcinoma) and in 18 tuberculin and varidase positive, Kveim negative control cases the migration inhibition factor (MIF) was investigated. Migration inhibition of macrophages was induced by the antigens tuberculin, varidase and Kveim's antigen and measured in Mackaness-chambers 24 hours later. Significant migration inhibition by the antigens tuberculin and varidase were seen in control cases, bronchial carcinomas and alveolar lipoid proteinoses. Increased migration indices frequently were found in interstitial lung fibrosis, Goodpasture syndrom and collagenous diseases. Kveim's antigen caused a significant migration inhibition in most cases of active sarcoidosis and in each one single case of collagenose and Hodgkin disease. The use of Kveim's antigen seem to have practical differential diagnostic value in this way.