THE INFLUENCE OF THE LOCAL INJECTION OF HYDROCORTONE (COMPOUND-F) ON THE REACTIONS TO TUBERCULIN, LEPROMIN, FREI AND DUCREY ANTIGENS

[摘要] The influence of the local injection of hydrocortone acetate on the reactions to tuberculin, lepromin and Frei and Ducrey antigens in a group of dermatologic patients affected by various benign dermatoses was studied. A saline suspension of hydrocortone acetate (compound F) containing 25 mg./cc. was used. We injected 0.2 cc. of the drug intradermally and in the same place, injected the antigen studied. Out of 46 experiments, there were 12 tests with tuberculin of which 6 were positive, 9 tests with Ducrey vaccine of which 8 were positive, 10 tests with Lygranum (Frei) of which 5 were positive, and 15 tests with lepromin, all of which were positive. Hydrocortone acetate partially or totally inhibited the reactions to tuberculin (Mantoux), Frei, Ducrey and the early allergic reaction to lepromin (Fernandez reaction) in the majority of the cases studied. Hydrocortone acetate also inhibited the late immune reaction to lepromin (Mitsuda reaction) either partially or totally, preventing formation of the nodule at 3 weeks, and later. Microscopic studies confirmed the clinical observations by showing that the drug produces atrophy of the epidermis and suppresses formation of the histological infiltrate that characterizes these reactions.