[Immunological disorders in chronic bronchitis].
The paper considers changes of cellular and humoral immunity in 181 chronic sufferers with bronchitis. The disease forms and severity were suggested to be evolutionary stages. There was suppression of immunological reactivity most evident in T-cell system and interleukin-1 in progressive chronic bronchitis. Immunological shifts proved more severe in obstructive chronic bronchitis complicated by pulmonary emphysema and chronic cor pulmonale. Alterations in immunological status may contribute to progression of chronic bronchitis.