Study of the immunological status of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Most patients with pulmonary tuberculosis have impaired T-lymphocyte function as measured by dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) sensitization and response to tetanus toxoid. The humoral immune response as gauged by the ability to respond to typhoid vaccine was not affected. Tuberculous patients had higher immunoglobulin levels than normal controls. The relative proportions of T lymphocytes in patients were lower than in controls while those of B lymphocytes were normal. By these criteria, rifampin treatment did not seem to cause immunosuppression.