[Immunological parameters in the assessment of the activity of a specific process in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected children and patients with intrathoracic lymphatic tuberculosis].

The data of a comprehensive study of 86 children aged 6 to 14 years, who were examined and treated at the Research Institute of Phthisiology for various manifestations of tuberculous infection: 25.6% with infected Mycobacterium tuberculosis with varying specific sensitization; 34.9% with minor forms of intrathoracic lymphatic tuberculosis (ITLT), 39.5% with disseminated processes into the intrathoracic lymph nodes, are analysed. Of the greatest informative value in the determination of the activity of tuberculous infection are RM V, VI, VII, and VIII dilutions in combination with immunological parameters of specific immunity: blast transpormation reaction (BTR) to PPD, a complex of serological reactions, IL-8, and lysosomal cationic test (LCT). Most children with ITLT showed a significant cellular response to PPD in the BTR test. It should be noted that on admission to the clinic, neutrophilic granulocytes were functionally inadequate in all the children as shown by LCT. The currently available immunological tests used in combination with the existing methods in the diagnosis of ITLT adequately evaluate the activity of tuberculous infection in children.