[Natural killer cells and adenosine deaminase activity in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis].

Natural killer cells (NKC) were studied in 150 patients with first revealed destructive pulmonary tuberculosis, 100 with fibrocavernous and 50 with cirrhotic pulmonary tuberculosis by assessing their peripheral blood levels, cytotoxic activity and specific activity of adenosine deaminase. The latter 2 parameters were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Different types of pulmonary tuberculosis were demonstrated to be accompanied by varying NKC depressions.