Altered cellular immunity in Werner's syndrome.

A cellular immunodeficiency was revealed in a 39-year-old female patient suffering from Werner's syndrome. Relevant findings were negative intracutaneous tests to candidin, trichophytin, tuberculin and bacterial antigens, reduced lymphocyte response to PHA, and impaired intracellular killing of Candida albicans by granulocytes. The inclination of patients suffering from Werner's syndrome to develop neoplasms may be related to this immunodeficiency.