[Effect of vitamin A on immunological status of patients with chronic pneumonia]

Effect of vitamin A on some patterns of specific and unspecific immunity was studied in patients with chronic pneumonia. The vitamin was administered into the patients during 7 days at a daily dose of 500,000 IU. Administration of vitamin A was found to stimulate several immunological patterns: content of T- and B lymphocytes in peripheral circulation as well as IgG and IgM blood serum were increased. After the vitamin A treatment the cellular immunity was also stimulated, involving the activation of lymphocyte blast transformation with PHA and the increase in exhibition of skin reaction towards PHA. In response to vitamin A administration activation was observed of unspecific bactericidal, and complement activities in blood serum as well as of the myeloperoxidase activity in leukocytes of peripheral circulation. Administration of vitamin A into the control patients within a week at a daily dose of 10,000 IU did not alter the immunological patterns studied.