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Enumeration of absolute numbers of T lymphocyte subsets in B‐chronic lymphocytic leukaemia using an immunoperoxidase technique: relation to clinical stage
Author(s) -
Markey Geraldine M.,
Alexander H. D.,
Agnew A. N. D.,
Mcconnell Robyn E.,
Morris T. C. M.,
Robertson J. H.,
Crockard A. D.,
Bridges J. M.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1986.tb02929.x
Subject(s) - immunoperoxidase , enumeration , stage (stratigraphy) , immunology , lymphocyte subsets , medicine , b cell , monoclonal antibody , t cell , antibody , biology , immune system , mathematics , paleontology , combinatorics
S ummary . An immunoperoxidase technique has been used to identify and enumerate helper and suppressor T‐cell subsets, as defined by reactivity with Coulter T4 and OKT8 monoclonal antibodies in 54 patients with B chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B‐CLL) and in the same number of matched controls. The ratio of T4 + to T8 + cells was significantly reduced in the B‐CLL group as a whole ( P <0.001) and in each stage of the three clinical staging systems. There was an increase in the median absolute level of T8 + cells in the whole CLL group ( P <0.001). However, subdivision of the CLL group by clinical staging systems revealed a large group (28 patients) in which median T8 + cell levels were not raised and median T4 + cell levels were low ( P <0.001). There was no significant decrease in T4:T8 + ratio, increase in T8 + cells or decrease in T4 + cells with progression of clinical stage. Absolute numbers of E + cells were significantly raised in all staging systems as were E + T4 − T8 − cells ( P < 0.001). A significant alteration in either of these populations with progression of clinical stage was not present.