Immunological investigations in tuberculous ascites

Cell mediated immunity was assessed in seven patients with bacteriologically and/or histologically confirmed tuberculous ascites. Eight non-tuberculous ascites patients were included as controls. Anti-PPD antibody levels were also estimated by ELISA. Macrophage from tuberculous ascitic fluid showed increased production of H202 when compared with ascitic fluid macrophages from controls. Proliferative response of lymphocytes to PPD antigen was greater in ascitic fluid than in peripheral blood in tuberculous patients, while the responses were reversed in control patients. Tuberculous ascitic fluid had higher levels of anti-PPD antibodies than ascitic fluid from controls, though their levels in peripheral blood were similar in the two groups. It is concluded that the results provide support to the concept of immunologic localization.