Immune responses in experimental tuberculosis: effect of cortisone treatment
Venkataraman, M.; Kumar, R.; Bhuyan, U.N.; Malaviya, A.N.; Mohapatra, L.N.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 64(11): 1592-1599
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 828616 Document Number: 96836
The effect of hydrocortisone on the development of immune response and progress of disease was studied in BCG vaccinated and unvaccinated guinea pigs challenged with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The vaccinated and unvaccinated animals on cortisone behaved almost similarly up to 8 wk with respect to skin reactivity compared to respective groups not on cortisone. However, some animals in vaccinated and unvaccinated groups on cortisone were negative for skin tests at 16 wk. Macrophage migration inhibition was not much influenced by cortisone treatment. Antibody formation, which was inhibited by cortisone, was restored when the drug was withdrawn. Although cortisone hastened the progress of the disease in the initial stages after challenge in the unvaccinated animals, its effect was not obvious in the later stages. Mortality in these animals was earlier than the ones not on drug treatment. However, the adverse effect of cortisone on the progress of tuberculous disease was more marked throughout the period of study in the case of vaccinated and challenged animals. The significance of the effect of cortisone in tuberculosis with regard to the susceptibility of the host and the virulence of the organism is discussed.