T-cell activation and proliferation in a case of recurrent menstrual toxic shock syndrome

A case of menses-related toxic shock syndrome with a relapse within 9 days is presented. Cervical smear of the patient yielded growth of a Staphylococcus aureus strain which produced toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1). Serum antibody against TSST-1 were absent in the first sample which was obtained in the acute phase and did not increase significantly within 5 weeks. We studied the proliferative response of the patient's T cells during and after the acute phase of disease to evaluate whether they have been rendered unresponsive to TSST-1. We could not detect any reduction in the T cell proliferation at any time. Peripheral T cells of the patient were analysed flow-cytometrically at two different times to determine the expression of the T cell activity markers CD25 and HLA-DR. The expression of HLA-DR was increased during the acute phase and had declined significantly at the time of the second analysis; the CD25 expression remained constant.