PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Heredia, C. D. AU - Vich, J. M. AU - Huguet, J. AU - García-Calderón, J. V. AU - García-Calderón, P. A. TI - Altered cellular immunity and suppressor cell activity in patients with primary retinitis pigmentosa. AID - 10.1136/bjo.65.12.850 DP - 1981 Dec 01 TA - British Journal of Ophthalmology PG - 850--854 VI - 65 IP - 12 4099 - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/65/12/850.short 4100 - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/65/12/850.full SO - Br J Ophthalmol1981 Dec 01; 65 AB - A group of 54 patients with primary retinitis pigmentosa were studied and the following findings are described: response of lymphocytes to stimulation by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA); response of lymphocytes to stimulation by xenogenic retinal extract; distribution of T and T-active lymphoid populations; total suppressor activity induced by concanavalin-A (con-A). The results obtained showed a reduction in the response to PHA (p less than 0.05), a positive response of 26/45 (p less than 0.001) to stimulation by retinal extract, a reduction in the T and T-active lymphoid populations (p less than 0.01), (p less than 0.01), and a diminished total suppressor activity induced by con-A (p less than 0.01). This alterations of immune cellular responses and the diminished suppressor activity in the group of patients, in comparison with a control group of healthy subjects, seems to indicate the existence of an immune process of disregulation (autoimmunity?) in the pathology of primary retinitis pigmentosa.