Delayed-type hypersensitivity and circulating basophils. A population study.

Abstract

The factors related to delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) have been investigated in two samples of elderly non-hospitalized (n = 375) and hospitalized subjects (n = 409). Percent basophils was found to be consistently related to the number of positive responses to seven common antigens in the different samples or subsamples considered. The mean number of responses, after adjustment for age, sex and sample was 1.55 below 0.5% basophils, 1.87 between 0.5 and 1.5% and 1.96 over 1.5% (P less than 0.01). No relation was observed between percent basophils and the mean diameter of the positive responses, suggesting that basophils might be related to the early phase of DTH reactions. As previously reported, the number of positive responses was found to be lower in women than in men and to be inversely related to age.