Test of leukocyte migration inhibition. 1. Value of the test in the diagnosis of certain immune diseases.

The test of leukocyte migration inhibition (LMI) being a specific and sensitive method for the detection of cell-mediated immunity, its ever increasing use in the clinic necessitates a more accurate estimation of its actual value. The technique used in this study is that of leukocyte migration in capillary tubes according to Soborg and Bendixen. The test was performed in three groups of patients: A--with drug intoxication; B--with chronic post viral hepatitis and C--with alcoholic liver disease. The results obtained showed that in the patients with drug allergy the LMI test using the incriminated drugs as antigens was positive in 83% of the cases, in the patients with chronic post viral hepatitis the cellular migration inhibition to the HBsAg was observed in 35% of the cases and in alcoholic liver disease lymphocyte sensitization to ethanol was present in 28.7% of the cases. It is concluded that in drug allergy the LMI test is useful and has diagnostic value being preferable to other in vitro determinations and even, in certain cases, to the skin tests. In chronic liver diseases the value of the test is limited to investigation purposes as it can reveal the degree of involvement of cell-mediated immunity in the pathogenesis of disease.