Lymphocyte Transformation in Malnourished Children

In vitro lymphocyte stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin gave subnormal transformation values in children with protein-calorie malnutrition. It is suggested that impaired cell-mediated immunity may be one important mechanism for the susceptibility of malnourished children to infections. Lymphocyte transformation was also subnormal in children with measles and gastroenteritis but tended to be increased in pneumonia.