[Lymphocytotoxic antibodies in malaria].

We applied the microlymphocytotoxicity method to the detection of lymphocytotoxic antibodies in case of 37 patients with acute malaria or 61 patients who sojourned in endemic malaria area and presented antibodies against plasmodial antigens (indirect immunofluorescence test greater than or equal to 1/20). Lymphocytotoxic antibodies were found in 16 patients of the first group and their occurrence may explain the lymphopenia and to a lesser extent the neutropenia and thrombopenia observed in some cases. In the second group lymphocytotoxic antibodies were present in 9 cases. In all samples no anti-HLA specificity was evidenced. Four patients were submitted to auto-cross-match test and 3 were found positive suggesting that among these antibodies some are auto-antibodies with anti-lymphocyte specificity.