Lymphocyte subpopulations in sarcoidosis: correlation with disease aetivity and duration
Daniele, R.P.; Rowlands, D.T.
Annals of Internal Medicine 85(5): 593-600
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-4819 PMID: 1086623 Document Number: 107868
Lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of 29 sarcoid patients were studied to relate T[thymus-derived]- and B[bone marrow-derived]-cell populations with disease activity and duration. In patients with acute (< 1 yr) and chronic (.gtoreq. 9 yr) active disease, the absolute lymphocyte count was reduced; the absolute number of T cells was reduced; and the proliferative response of lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin was depressed compared with control subjects. Ten of 21 patients with active disease had 5%-32% atypical lymphocytes. The proportion of cells bearing surface immunoglobulin (Ig) was increased in patients with active disease, but the absolute number of cells bearing surface Ig did not differ significantly from controls. Studies using overnight in vitro culture indicated that a large fraction of these cells bound exogenous Ig. The number of cells identified by complement receptors was significantly reduced in patients with active disease. Patients who had complete resolution of their disease showed no significant differences from controls in T- or B-cell populations or in the proliferative response of their lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin.