[Quantitative evaluation of the T- and B-systems of immunity in various hereditary diseases of the nervous system].

In 37 patients with some hereditary diseases of the nervous system (deforming muscular dystonia, hepatocerebral dystrophy, essential tremor, etc.), as well as in 22 healthy subjects (donors), the percentage and the absolute content of the T- and B-lymphocytes in the blood were determined. Use was made of the reactions of spontaneous, active, and complementary rosette formation and determination of the B-cells from superficial immunoglobulins. In all the hereditary diseases listed a drop of the content of thymus-dependent lymphocytes and an increase of the capacity of lymphocytes for complementary rosette formation were revealed. The data obtained can be, probably, interpreted as evidences of a secondary immunodeficient state, possibly, caused by metabolic disturbances which are known to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of hereditary diseases of the nervous system.