The possible immunosuppressive properties of the combination sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim or either of the agents alone were studied in healthy human volunteers. The effect of the 4-day drug treatment on the antibody synthesis after vaccination was measured by titrating tetanus antitoxin, mumps antibody and Salmonella Hb antibody levels 4 and 5 weeks after vaccination. No significant differences were found in mumps or Salmonella antibody titres in the drug-treated group compared to controls. Tetanus antitoxin levels, however, were significantly lower than in controls after the combined drug. When a fourfold or greater increase in tetanus antitoxin titre was obtained in 75% of controls, the respective figures were 38% in the sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim-treated group (p < 0.05), 45% in the trimethoprim group (p > 0.05), and 50% in the sulphamethoxazole group (p > 0.05). The implications of these findings are discussed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.