Defective yeast opsonisation of serum in tuberculosis. Issue 7 (July 1980)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Johnson, N M; McNicol, M W; Kapoor, A; Burton-Kee, J E; Mowbray, J F
• Is Part Of: Thorax. Volume 35:Issue 7(1980)
• Page Start: 523
• Page End: 525
• Publication Date: 1980-07
• Subjects: Chest -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Thorax; Chest -- Diseases; Periodicals; Periodicals; 617.54
• DOI: 10.1136/thx.35.7.523
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0040-6376

Abstract

Abstract : We have studied the opsonising ability of the sera of 92 patients with tuberculosis. Fourteen per cent of these patients showed defective opsonising ability compared with 4% in a clinic control group. This increased frequency in TB was accounted for by the greatly increased proportion with defects found in patients with intrathoracic TB (21%). We may have identified a section of the population with a specific genetically linked abnormality of a host defence mechanism which renders them more susceptible to intrathoracic TB. Further population studies are required.