EXPRESSION OF ANTIGENS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INDIVIDUAL STAGES OF THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE IN CHILD AND ADULT AS A POSSIBLE DISTINCTIVE METHOD FOR RECURRENT AND CHRONIC TONSILLITIS

Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) specific for the antigens associated wit h each stage of an inflammatory response were assayed with tonsillar m ononuclear cells (TMNG). MoAbs BMA 27 E 10 and BMA 4 D 10 were used as markers for the early stages, BMA RM 3/1 for the intermediate stage, BMA 25 F 9 for the late Stage, and BMA G 16/1 for the chronic stage. T MNC were obtained from patients operated for (1) recurrent tonsillitis with hypertrophy caused by common flora (children); (2) an indication for surgery for chronic tonsillitis in adults; (3) patients who were 'warm' tonsillectomized for a second peri-tonsillar phlegmon. Our resu lts are presented and discussed in the light of their possible clinica l significance. Our findings indicate that clinical chronic tonsilliti s in the adult really is such. In the adults studied there was a high expression of antigens which is associated with the chronic stages, wh ile the low expression of antigens is associated with the intermediate stage and an even lower antigen expression indicates the acute stage. In children what is considered to be chronic tonsillitis may perhaps be more correctly regarded as an expression of recurrent inflammation.