Lymphocyte cultures and skin allograft survival in patients with South American blastomycosis

Abstract Lymphocyte cultures with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), skin allograft survival, intradermal tests with microbial antigens, and sensitization to dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) were performed in 10 patients with South American blastomycosis. The lymphocyte stimulation in vitro was depressed in 6 of the patients. Exposure to DNCB resulted in sensitization in 3 of 10 patients. Among the 7 DNCB-negative patients, Mast transformation was depressed in 6, and in 2 of these there was prolonged skin allograft survival. The results suggest a severe impairment of delayed hypersensitivity in some patients with South American blastomycosis.