Depression of lymphocyte response to phytohaemagglutinin in the presence of plasma from children with acute protein energy malnutrition.

Phytohaemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte transformation of four healthy adults and a child with kwashiorkor was performed in the presence of plasma from nineteen patients with protein energy malnutrition and a nutritionally normal child. Marked inhibition occurred in the presence of plasma from six patients who subsequently died, moderate inhibition occurred in six other patients in the acute stage and in two of these six in the convalescent stage, whilst in the remaining seven there was no effect. Reduction in response did not appear to be due to plasma cytotoxicity. Plasma factors in some cases of malnutrition, associated with certain infections appear to inhibit the lymphocyte response and this may have prognostic implications.