Medical expert of the article
New publications
Analysis of complex study of immune status
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
The main principle of assessing the results of a comprehensive study of the patient's immune status is a quantitative and functional assessment of all its links (antigen-nonspecific and antigen-specific factors) and their comparison with normal values. The normal state of the immune status means the immune system indicators determined in practically healthy individuals of various age groups. Determining the parameters of the immune system in various pathological conditions makes it possible to divide the latter into three main groups:
- without significant changes in immune status;
- with immune system deficiency (immunodeficiencies);
- with hyperactivation of immunocompetent cells (autoimmune pathology, allergy).
Using clinical immunology methods, it is necessary to identify the level of disorders in the patient and then monitor the restoration of the body's immune status during treatment. The most common disorders of the human immune system are immunodeficiencies. The term "immunodeficiencies" refers to disorders of the normal immunological status caused by a defect in one or more immune response mechanisms. Primary and secondary immunodeficiencies are distinguished. Primary conditions are those in which disorders of immune mechanisms (production of Ig and/or T-lymphocytes) are caused by genetic factors. Depending on the level of disorders and localization of the defect, immunodeficiencies are divided into humoral, cellular, caused by defects in the nonspecific resistance system (in particular, the phagocytosis system) and combined.
Rules for evaluating immunograms
- A comprehensive analysis of the immunogram is more informative than assessing each indicator separately.
- A full analysis of the immunogram can only be carried out in conjunction with an assessment of the clinical picture in a given patient.
- Strong shifts in the indicators carry real information in the immunogram; weak shifts only allow one to increase confidence in the correctness of the conclusion made.
- Dynamic analysis of an immunogram is always more informative, both in diagnostic and prognostic terms, than a single immunogram.
- In the vast majority of cases, the analysis of the immunogram makes it possible to make approximate, rather than unconditional, diagnostic and prognostic conclusions.
- Of primary practical importance in an immunogram are the ratios of various populations and subpopulations of immunocompetent cells, and not their absolute values.
To facilitate a comprehensive assessment of the immune status, we provide algorithms for assessing each link of immunity. When assessing the cellular link of immunity, in addition to the T-helpers/T-suppressors (Tx/Tc) ratio, the ratio of the total number of leukocytes in the blood to the total number of T-lymphocytes - the leukocyte-T-lymphocyte index, which is normally 4-7, is of great importance.
[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ], [ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ], [ 11 ], [ 12 ], [ 13 ]