[Immune system in children with pulmonary tuberculosis]

T- and B- cell immunity, levels of antituberculous antibodies, M. tuberculosis antigens and circulating immune complexes (CIC) were studied in 61 children with clinical manifestations of intrathoracic tuberculosis. T-cell immunity was subnormal in 39.5% of the examinees. Moderate inhibition of this immunity occurred in 14%. 46.5% of the examinees had normal T-cell immunity. B-lymphocyte count, IgG levels were normal, whereas IgA and IgM were low and elevated, respectively. T-cell immunity appeared the weakest in children with more advanced disease. Acute tuberculosis was associated with more frequent occurrence of CIC, antituberculous antibodies, tuberculous antigen. Administration of sodium nucleinate promoted normalization of T-cell immunity in the above patients. If they had antituberculous antibodies, antigens and CIC 2.5-12 months after chemotherapy, this indicated the persistence of the process activity and required continuation and perfection of chemotherapy.