[Correlation between functional activity of lymphocytes in patients with Alzheimer's dementia and their response to therapy].

16 patients with dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT) were examined. Functional activity of lymphocytes was determined according to proliferating activity of T-lymphocytes, production of Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and estimation of subpopulations of T-leukocytes (T-helpers, T-suppressors). The patients were observed both before and 1-2.5 months after amiridin therapy. Considerable reduction of both IL-1 production and proliferating activity of T-lymphocytes was observed after the treatment in 8 patients of 11. Their cognitive functioning after the therapy was either improved or stable by the moment of repeated observation. It is quite important that initial functional activity of lymphocytes was considerably higher in this group of patients as compared with the age-matched controls. Change for the worse in cognitive functions by the moment of the second examination was accompanied in 5 patients with an increase in IL-1 production as compared to the initial level. It is proposed that high level of IL-1 production by blood lymphocytes may be used as a criterion in selection of DAT patients for amiridin therapy.