Comparative study of the peripheral lymphocyte count in controls and in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemias 4 hours after injection of hydrocortisone
Dighiero, G.; Charron, D.; Vaugier, G.; Leporrier, M.; Debré, P.; d'Athis, P.; Binet, J.L.
Nouvelle Revue Francaise D'hematologie 20(2): 317-322
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-4810 PMID: 309108 Document Number: 129224
The peripheral lymphocyte count was investigated prior to and 4 h after a single i.v. injection of 400 mg of hydrocortisone (HSHC) in 23 controls and 43 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. A reduction in the peripheral lymphocyte count was observed in all normal controls; the mean decrease was 51.9% with differences according to age. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) the peripheral lymphocyte count showed a variable response: decrease, no change or increase. A correlation existed between a decrease in peripheral lymphocyte counts and anatomico-clinical staging. Patients with involvement restricted to blood and bone marrow often exhibited a drop in their peripheral lymphocyte count (P < 0.01). A 2nd correlation was that the percentage of circulating T[thymus-derived]-lymphocytes was higher (54%) in CLL patients whose peripheral lymphocyte count dropped than in other CLL patients (P < 0.001).