[Immune status of middle-aged and aged patients with tuberculosis]

After examination of 165 tuberculous patient of presenile and senile age, 150 young patients, 65 healthy presenile and senile donors, 56 young healthy donors it was established that young and aged healthy donors differ by some parameters of T-cell immunity (inhibited blast-transformation response to PHA, reduced number of T-helpers, high suppressive activity of induced Con-A. Young tuberculous patients differ from their healthy counterparts by a variety of immunological parameters (low T-lymphocyte and helper count, poor blast-transformation, increased number of T-suppressors and induced ConA suppression, B-lymphocyte count and serum IgG level). Immunological reactivity is the least in aged tuberculous patients. Compared to aged healthy donors they have reduced number of T-lymphocytes, T-helpers, inhibited PHA response and IL-2 synthesis, greater count of T-suppressors, enhanced induced ConA suppression. B-cell immunity was similar in young and aged patients. Antituberculous immunity reactions were weaker than in young patients.