RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Altered cellular immunity and suppressor cell activity in patients with primary retinitis pigmentosa. JF British Journal of Ophthalmology JO Br J Ophthalmol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. SP 850 OP 854 DO 10.1136/bjo.65.12.850 VO 65 IS 12 A1 Heredia, C. D. A1 Vich, J. M. A1 Huguet, J. A1 García-Calderón, J. V. A1 García-Calderón, P. A. YR 1981 UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/65/12/850.abstract 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.