Short time and prolonged low dose X radiation in human immunity.

In 172 X-ray technicians and 178 controls the occurrence of autoantibodies and serum immunoglobulin levels were determined. A slight and non-significant prevelance of autoantibodies was found in X-ray exposed women with extended employment. IgM levels tend to be higher in this group. X-ray technicians had lower proportions of E-RFC. Moreover, MIF generation is slightly impaired in X-ray exposed people. Peripheral blood lymphocyte profiles were determined in patients before and after X-ray examinations. Significant drops in EAC-RFC were found in these people at 1 and 3 hrs after exposure. Such changes were not revealed in the control group. LIF was measured before and 3 hrs after X-ray exposure in patients, who underwent a digestive tract examination, the coefficients of correlation between the LIF results were weaker as compared with the control results.