Tuberculosis (TB) is known to persist as latent infection and it is during this latent phase that the bacilli are able to bypass the host immunity and infect extrapulmonary sites such as lymph nodes. This study aims to find the tentative role of the cytokines released by type-1 and type-2 helper lymphocytes in patients of tuberculous lymphadenitis and understand their role and prevalence during immune response against MTB in these patients. Thirty patients with clinically diagnosed and

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... ally proven Tuberculous lymphadenitis constituted the cases. Blood sample of 30 cases and 10 healthy volunteers was collected after obtaining written consent and the separated serum was stored at -80°C. ELISA was carried out using the standard method with the serum of these patients for Th-1 cytokines (IL-2 & interferon-γ) and for Th-2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-5). The concentrations of the type-1 cytokines, especially INF- γ as well as type-2 cytokines, i.e IL-4 and IL-5 was highly increased in the patients selected. It was also noted that the levels of all the cytokines were increased if the patient had necrosis or AFB positive report on fine needle aspiration as compared to granuloma only report. Patients having tubercular lymphadenopathy show increased INF- γ in the circulation. It was also noted that IL-4 and IL-5 also seem to increase in proportion to the decreased immune status.