[Changes induced by calf thymus extract on cell-mediated immunity, evaluated by intradermal tests, in the elderly]

A thymic calf extract (LEUCOTROFINA) was injected twice a day for 20 days to 24 elderly patients, in order to establish its efficacy to improve the lymphocytic "memory" against the antigens commonly used in the skin tests (Candidin, Tuberculin, Varidase, Mumps, Trichophytin) and the DNCB test. As far as the recall antigens were concerned, no remarkable improvement was observed in patients over 75 years, while a significant positive response (from 47% to 84,6%- P less than 0,05) was noticed in patients treated with leucotrophina aged between 65 and 75 years, compared to not treated control group. With DNCB test no difference was noted in both groups. Our data confirmed the interesting role of a thymic extract therapy in elderly patients.