Effect of Measles Immunization on Tuberculin Hypersensitivity and in vitro Lymphocyte Reactivity

Tuberculin skin test reactivity, blood lymphocyte levels, antituberculoprotein antibody levels and in vitro proliferative responses of lymphocytes cultured with tuberculin were compared in subjects receiving measles vaccine or placebo. Five of 10 individuals receiving measles vaccine showed significant depression of tuberculin skin test reactivity; 4 of these 5 showed concomitant decrease in degrees of tuberculin-induced lymphocyte proliferation. There were no significant changes following placebo administration to 3 individuals.