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Detection of CD4 + T‐cell antibodies in a patient with idiopathic CD4 + T lymphocytopenia and cryptococcal meningitis
Author(s) -
Salit Rachel B.,
Hankey Kim G.,
Yi Rosemary,
Rapoport Aaron P.,
Mann Dean L.
Publication year - 2007
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.1365-2141.2007.06781.x
Subject(s) - lymphocytopenia , immunology , antibody , medicine , t cell , meningitis , serology , autoantibody , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , immune system , biology , lymphocyte , pediatrics , biochemistry , in vitro
Summary Idiopathic CD4 + T lymphocytopenia (ICL) is defined as a CD4 + T‐cell count <0·3 × 10 9 /l or <20% of the total T‐cell count on two occasions in the absence of any immunodeficiency disorder or therapy associated with reduced CD4 + T‐cell count. Although several mechanisms of ICL have been reported, the pathophysiology is still largely unknown. This case report describes a patient who presented with cryptococcal meningitis and was subsequently discovered to meet the criteria for ICL. Flow cytometric analysis of the patient's peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed antibodies coating a much larger proportion of his CD4 + T cells (33·61%) than the CD4 + T cells of normal donors (3·94 ± 1·77%). The reasons behind the development of these autoantibodies are explored.