Immunological recovery in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis after intensive phase treatment

ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the change and significance of immune parameters in patients with sputum smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) after 2 months of intensive phase anti-TB treatment.MethodsThe immune parameters of 232 cases of sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB were detected before and after 2 months of intensive phase anti-TB treatment and compared with 50 cases from healthy volunteers (controls). The T lymphocyte cell population in peripheral blood was detected using flow cytometry. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor-α were measured by ELISA.ResultsAfter 2 months of intensive phase anti-TB treatment, a reduction in the percentage of CD4+ T cells showed a significant restoration similar to that of controls. Moreover, after intensive anti-TB treatment, serum levels of IL-1β, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor-α were significantly decreased compared with before treatment. Additionally, s...