Rehabilitation and Immune Function

The changes in serum levels of immunoglobulins G, A and M, number of circulating lymphocytes, lymphocyte subsets and responses of lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A with 2 months of conventional physical therapy were evaluated in ten patients with hemiplegia 2-3 weeks after the onset of cerebrovascular diseases classified into stage II-III by the criteria of Brunnstrom. Compared with the patients who discontinued physical therapy 3-4 weeks after the onset of stroke because of their own will, the ratio of CD4 +/CD 8+ and the responses of lymphocytes to mitogens were significantly increased, though the serum levels of immunoglobulins G, A and M, the number of circulating lymphocytes, HLA-DR, CD3+ cells and ratios of T and B cells were not changed. These observations suggest that physical therapy may enhance immune function in stroke patients.