AUGMENTATION OF DRUG-INDUCED LYMPHOCYTE TRANSFORMATION BY INDOMETHACIN IN PATIENTS WITH DRUG-INDUCED ALLERGIC HEPATITIS

Although lymphocyte transformation and lymphokine production have been frequently used for the identification of the causative drug in patients with drug-induced allergic hepatitis, these immunological parameters are not always positive in all patients. This may be reflected in the population of suppressor cells. In order to augment these immunological reactions, we devised a method in which indomethacin was added to the lymphocyte culture simultaneously with antigen (drug and carrier). In patients who did not show any positive lymphocyte transformation or lymphokine (cholestatic factor) production by stimulation with the causative drug in the presence of the suitable carrier, the addition of indomethacin was found to enhance the immunological responses. That is, lymphocyte transformation by the causative drug was significantly induced.