[Immunologic abnormalities in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis].

A comprehensive immunological examination of 20 patients with various clinical manifestations of lateral amyotrophic sclerosis (LAS) was carried out. The authors determined the total lymphocyte count, the percentage and absolute ratio of T- and B-lymphocytes of the blood, subpopulations of active, theophylline sensitive and theophylline resistant lymphocytes and also the content of serum immunoglobulins A, M and G as well as the circulating immune complexes (IC). Patients with LAS exhibited a decreased total count of blood lymphocytes and increased the percentage of B-cells and IgM. The ratio of the number of the theophylline resistant and theophylline sensitive cells was also found to change at the expense of a decrease in the latter (T-suppressors). Patients with different duration and severity of the disease were shown to have some differences in their immunological indices. The role of the immunopathological reactions in the pathogenesis of the disease is discussed.