Normal Delayed-Type Skin Reactions in Early Stages of Acquired Cellular Immunodeficiency

To the Editor: The subtlety and diversity of “cellular immunity” have been considerably illuminated by clinical observations of the acquired immunodeficiency in homosexual men, described in the December 10 issue.^{1 2 3} I have closely followed a number of patients from a relatively early point in the course of the disease. Initially, I was surprised to find several in whom recall delayed-type dermal hypersensitivity was maintained despite the presence of opportunistic infections. One had disseminated cryptococcosis and ulcerative herpes simplex infection, another had disseminated cytomegalovirus infection, and a third had chronic adenoviruria (serotype 11). All these men have died; during follow-up before.