Use of monoclonal antibodies to define peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in systemic connective tissue diseases
Malaviya, A.N.; Rajagopalan, P.; Venkitaraman, R.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 80: 196-202
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 6511011 Document Number: 233183
Perturbations in lymphocytes subsets of the peripheral blood of systemic connective tissue diseases are described. Conventional cell markers and cell markers defined by monoclonal antibodies were used in the study. The results showed deficiency of T cells, increase in B cells with a fall in T/B ratio. There was a significant decrease in the helper/inducer cells in the peripheral blood of all the patients irrespective of their disease activity. However, suppressor/cytotoxic cells were decreased only in patients with active disease. Low helper/suppressor ratio was seen in most of the patients. There was no difference between patients with or without renal involvement. Treatment lead to a significant rise in total T cells and suppressor/cytotoxic cells.