Studies on natural cytotoxicity of human monocytes in viral hepatitis.

Studies on natural cytotoxicity of peripheral blood monocytes were conducted in patients with acute viral hepatitis B, patients with chronic aggressive hepatitis etiopathogenically linked to viral hepatitis B, and in asymptomatic carriers of HBs antigen. In the majority of cases of viral hepatitis in the acute stage of the disease and in patients with chronic aggressive hepatitis a significant reduction in the examined function of monocytes was noted which became normalized during convalescence. Results obtained for HBs antigen carriers did not differ from those obtained for normal blood donors. The observations may indicate that restricted natural cytotoxicity of monocytes in the course of viral hepatitis B is related to liver injury. The disturbed monocyte natural cytotoxicity was becoming normal after in vitro incubation with thymic preparations (TFX, Thymex L).