Non specific immunomodulation in respiratory infections.

The recent advances in immunology have opened the way for new therapeutic approaches aiming at modulating the various components of the immune system in man. Lyophilized bacterial lysate were studied in a large number of models and found, when given orally, or by aerosol to induce specific and non specific responses. They stimulate the systemic and local immune response and activates the macrophages which play a key role in the immune system, modulates the level of serum immunoglobulins and potentiates the lymphocyte response to PHA and other mitogens. Based on these data a trial was conducted on 332 patients with or without bronchial asthma and recurrent respiratory tract infections. These patients have been observed during 2 years, the first year without therapy the second with bacterial lysates. The evolution during these 2 winters have been analysed by a score method. Improvements were recorded in about 2/3 of the cases and the number of infections were reduced from 2.14/patients to 1.08/patient (p less than 0.001). Bacterial lysates could be considered as an effective therapy or a preventive measure for respiratory tract infections in patients with or without bronchial asthma. The levels of serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE have been studied before and after oral immunotherapy with a bacterial lysate in 88 patients bronchial asthma, repeated respiratory infection, and 12 cases of IgA deficiency. A significant increase in IgA has been observed in nine patients presenting initially a decreased IgA serum level. In three patients without response to the standard treatment an increase in IgA was achieved by increasing the dosage of oral bacterial lysate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)