Cell mediated immunity in diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT

The percentage of peripheral T lymphocytes was determined in twenty Insulin Non Dependent Diabetes Mellitus [N.I.D.D.M.] and twenty controls. The mean percentage of Erosette formation was lower in I.D.D.M. [68.75 percent] N.I.D.D.M. [69.9 percent] by comparison to the controls [73.6 percent]. I.D.D.M, [63.8 percent], N.I.D.D.M. [73.5 percent] had a significantly decreased mean response to phytohemagglutinin stimulation by comparison to the control subjects [80 percent]. These findings support the concept of depressed cell-mediated immunity in the diabetic and might explain the propensity of the uncontrolled diabetic to increased frequency and severity of bacterial infection