Functional activity of the adrenal cortex and lymphocytes in bronchial asthma with different clinical responses to glucocorticoid therapy
Bobkova, L.P.; Negreĭ, L.N.
Terapevticheskii Arkhiv 53(3): 106-109
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0040-3660 PMID: 6973217 Document Number: 175767
Adrenocortical function and lymphocyte activity were examined in 87 steroid-dependent patients suffering from bronchial asthma treated with exogenous glucocorticoids. Patients with the different responses to glucocorticoid therapy showed substantial differences in plasma levels of protein-bound and free cortisol, the character and degree of the disturbance of adrenocortical function, quantitative deficit and functional insufficiency of T-lymphocytes, and the serum levels of Ig A, G and E. The disturbances of adrenocortical function and the immunity were the most marked in patients showing signs of steroid resistance. The character of the disturbances of adrenocortical function and the lymphocyte functional activity may bear a relation to the individual response to glucocorticoids.