Suppression of lymphocyte function 2 years following surgical treatment of paranasal sinus mycosis

Prior investigations showed that acutely diseased patients with an aspergillus sinusitis manifested immune dysfunctions in respect of both T and B lymphocytes. In contrast to patients with nonmycotic sinusitis reduced in vitro and in vivo responsiveness was observed. The aim of this study, carried out after removal of the fungus ball and endoscopic surgery in clinically healthy patients, was to ascertain whether this reduced responsiveness was to be regarded as the effect or cause of an Aspergillus fumigatus infection. Two years later, the in vivo response to recall antigens was normal in both groups of patients, whereas the response to mitogens (ConA, PHA and PWM) was still decreased in the aspergillus sinusitis groups. The data suggest that the reduced immune response is a consequence of the Aspergillus fumigatus infection. Depressed skin reactivity is only present during acute infection, while proliferative capacity, as measured in the "whole blood stimulation" assay is depressed for a long time after healing the acute infection.