[Cellular and humoral immunity indices in chickenpox, rubella, measles and epidemic parotitis in adults].

Immunity characteristics at the height of the infectious process and at the period of convalescence were studied in 170 adult patients, aged 18-45 years, with chickenpox, rubella measles and epidemic parotitis. In chickenpox, rubella and measles a significant decrease, more pronounced in a severe course of the disease, in the number of T- and B-lymphocytes was observed, the immunosuppressive effect being more pronounced in measles. During convalescence the number of T- and B-lymphocytes in patients with the above-mentioned diseases approached the normal level with the exception of measles patients; in these patients the number of T-lymphocytes remained significantly below the normal level, while the content of IgG was increased. In the isolated form of epidemic parotitis no essential changes in immunity characteristics were detected, while in the disseminated forms, especially in those cases when the disease took a severe course, the tendency towards a decrease in the number of T-cells and a significant decrease in the levels of B-lymphocytes and IgG were observed. Prednisolone therapy used in such cases, though giving a good anti-inflammatory effect in parotitic orchitis, produced no immunosuppressive effect.