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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #217509
Title: Effects of repeated administration of intradermal skin test by Mantoux method on delayed-type hypersensitivity responses in healthy young and elderly subjects

Author
item AHMED, TANVIR - JM USDA HNRCA @ TUFTS
item HAMER, DAVIDSON - TUFTS HNRCA/BU PUB HEALTH
item Meydani, Simin

Submitted to: British Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/19/2007
Publication Date: 12/6/2007
Citation: Ahmed, T., Hamer, D.H., Meydani, S. 2007. Effects of repeated administration of intradermal skin test by Mantoux method on delayed-type hypersensitivity responses in healthy young and elderly subjects. British Journal of Nutrition. 99: 1388-1390.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Multi-test CMI to test immune response is no longer commercially available. DTH response is a highly suitable marker of immune function. Because delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test can predict morbidity and mortality, it may be clinically meaningful test to evaluate the effect of nutritional and other types of intervention on the immune response. Our study focused on the effect of repeated use of DTH skin test on healthy subjects since this information is generally limited in healthy subjects. We learned that in young subjects, there is a significant boosting effect from the test when 2 to 3 DTH’s are administered within 3 months and in the elderly, when 3 DTH’s are given within 3 months. Longer periods of time between DTH’s might be needed to evaluate the effect of interventions to modify the immune response. Repeated administration of DTH test and a significant boosting effect introduced by the test itself would confound the treatment effect.