Delayed Cutaneous Hypersensitivity Reactions in Chronic Dermatophytosis

Choi, Ill Seuk; Kim, Duck Ha

Abstract

For the establishment of the association of the chronic fungal infection with cell mediated immunity, delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity was measured for 96 patients with chronic dermatophytosis and 40 healthy adults by means of Multitest CMI. The patient group increased in rates of positivity to candida, trichophyton and diphtheria, but decreased in rates of positivity to proteus, streptococcus and tuherculin. The rate of positivity of the patient group in the antigen of trichophyton(14%) was shown as higher than that of the control group(8%). A big difference in the sum of diameters was shown between patients with nail infection(22.5+/- 113mm for male, 16.3+8.93mm for female) and patients without nail infection(17.8+/- 7.62rnm for male, 11.44.37mm for female). In conclusion, in the present study, the difference in the delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity between patient group and control group is not provided. Even though the possibility of defect of cell mediated immunity in chronic dermatophytosis is admitted, there are some doubts regarding the Multitest CMI being the adequate method ta check the state of cell mediated immunity of individuals who have trivial or partial defect in immunity.