Cortisone and Skin Sensitivity to Tuberculin in Reticuloses

Studies on Delayed Hypersensitivity in Hodgkin's Disease*

“…The early finding of tuberculin negativity in these patients (2,3), even in the presence of active tuberculous infection, has been confirmed repeatedly. Subsequent investigations have indicated that this cutaneous anergy extends to many other allergens mediated by the delayed or cellular type of hypersensitivity mechanism (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). Recently, the demonstration of tolerance to skin homografts in some patients with Hodgkin's disease (12) has further emphasized the extent of the immunological defect.…”

The negative tuberculin test. Tuberculin, HIV, and anergy panels.

“…The anergy found in cachectic patients dying of a variety of diseases, including cancer (32,33,58,71,96,98,162), tuberculosis (26, 66, 100, 112, 133-135, 137, 144), and AIDS (49,(163)(164)(165)(166), may be at least in part caused by changes in the host similar to those in malnutrition. In general, solid tumors and leukemias do not of themselves lead to impaired cutaneous reactivity (32,33,58,71,96,98,167,168). Hodgkin's Disease and other lymphomas may lead to profound anergy (28, 30-33, 89, 121, 167, 169, 170).…”

“…Hodgkin's Disease and other lymphomas may lead to profound anergy (28, 30-33, 89, 121, 167, 169, 170). Cytotoxic or immunosuppressive chemotherapy, whether used for treatment of malignancies or of inflammatory diseases, causes diminution of cutaneous reactivity and may be the cause of what anergy is seen in the leukemias and epithelial malignancies (32,33,58,71,96,98,167,168).…”

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in the Aetiology of Sarcoidosis

“…External Agents and Host Reactivity in Sarcoidosis It is my opinion that, both in the patients in whom tubercle bacilli were found in the sarcoid phase and *Since this lecture was delivered Fairley and Matthias (1960) have filled a gap in these arguments. Investigating the effects of cortisone upon skin sensitivity to tuberculin in reticuloses, they found that 62 (45%) of 138 patients failed to react to 100 t.u.…”