Evaluation of cell-mediated immunity in mustard gas injuries

ABSTRACT

Yamakido, et al. in 1986 have studied immunological parameters in poison gas workers, and a depression has been observed in immunologic response. Also, the frequency of cancer has reached as high as five-fold that of the general population. In the present study, cell-mediated immunity [CMI] was measured in three groups of Iranian mustard gas-injured patients. The first group were those who had been injured three months up to one year before, and the second group were studied one to two years after injury, and the third were studied after two years from the time of injury. The following results were obtained 1- In comparison with normal controls [61.5 +/- 4], T lymphocytes showed a significant decrease in 50% of the three groups [50.71 +/- 15. 7; 46.95 +/- 15] of poison gas injury, and B lymphocytes were increased, but no significant difference could be seen in mitogen response to PHA. 2- In comparison with normal control [47 +/- 9], T helper cells [T4] in 52% of the first and second groups were significantly decreased [33. 14 +/- 16.59]. 3- T suppressor cells [T8] in 53% of the first group, and in 22% of the second and third groups [27.29 +/- 11. 77; 21. 4 +/- 6. 89] were increased in comparison with normal controls [20 +/- 6]. 4-Ratio of T4 to T8 in 71% of the first group and 60% of the second and third groups were decreased. Therefore depression of CMI in poison gas injury was observed after one, two, and three years, which will be discussed in this paper