Studies on the Alteration of Tuberculin Reaction: Part 1: Alteration of the Tuberculin Reaction due to the Repeated Tests on the Same site of Human Body, Part 2: Duration of the Alteration of Tuberculin Reaction

Abstract

Repeated (2 times) tuberculin tests were performed in I to 6 years intervals on the same site of forearms to 172 men (23 to 30 years old) to investigate the duration of the alteration of tuberculin reactivity due to repeated tuberculin testings. Used tuberculins were 2.000 x diluted Old TubercuIi n and lγ/cc PPD solution. They were all non-tuberculous cases and 7 bone tuberculosis patients were selected to persue the relationship between the tuberculous disease and the alteration of tuberculin reactivity. First tuberculin tests were performed with 2,000 x diluted OT solution in all cases.1) In 137 cases. retested with 2,000 x diluted OT solution marked acceleration and increase in intensity of reaction were found in all cases until the intervals were prolonged 3 to 4 years. When the intervals were prolonged 4 to 5 years, acceleration of tuberculin reactions disappeared in 50% of all cases and when intervals were 5 to 6 years, 83% showed their maximal intensities of reactions in 48 hour readings. Consequently, when tuberculin test is repeated on the same site with same tuberculin, alteration of reactivity must be kept in mind unless the former test was performed 6 years or more before.2) When retested with PPD. accelcration and increase in intensity or tuberculin reactions were Iess prominent than retested with OT. (same tuberculin) When retested with PPD in 3 to 4 years intervals, 66% of all cases showed their maximal intensities in 48 hour readings and at 4 to 5years intervals, all cases showed no acceleration and their maximal intensities of reactions were found in 48 hour readings. It is quite different from the results obtained in the repeated tests with OT and it is sue to the use of different tuberculin when repeated.3) In 7cases of bone tuberculosis, 3 cases of them showed acceleration of reactivity and their maximal intensities were found in 20 to 24 hours reading.