Immunological aspects of renal tuberculosis and their clinical importance

Abstract

The tbc serological finding of four specific antibodies in the serum is reflecting the immunological state of the patient with tuberculosis. Quality, quantity and frequency of these hemolysing, hemagglutinating, incomplete and complement-fixing antibodies are correlated with typical antibody spectra. In cooperation with Popp we studied the immunological patterns of 743 patients with renal tuberculosis by means of 1,835 specimens of serum. Hemolysing antibodies are the equivalent of activity, expression of an injury reaction; hemagglutinating antibodies conversely are reflecting protective reactions, they are the equivalent of defense, of inhibition of tuberculin cytolysis; the presence of incomplete antibodies is merely evidence of general immunological activity; complement-fixing antibodies were found in the proliferative phase and are, thus, expression of productive reaction of the tissues. For clinical purposes, determination of the immunological state makes it possible to differentiate the diagnosis, to evaluate the degree of activity, to characterize different forms of renal tuberculosis, to regulate conservative and operative treatment and to supervise renal tuberculosis and pregnancy.