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T Lymphocyte Subpopulations in Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
Author(s) -
Scott C. S.,
Wheeler R.,
Ford P.,
Bynoe A. G.,
Roberts B. E.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0036-553X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1983.tb02525.x
Subject(s) - thrombocytopenic purpura , splenectomy , immunology , cytotoxic t cell , suppressor , population , medicine , t lymphocyte , pathogenesis , t cell , antibody , immune system , biology , spleen , cancer , in vitro , biochemistry , environmental health
Absolute T cell counts and the relative distributions of antibody‐defined helper and cytotoxic/suppressor T lymphocytes are reported in 26 patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). T cell numbers are generally normal in ITP and alterations in relative helper (OKT4 positive) and suppressor (OKT8 positive) T cell numbers show no consistent patterns, although 35 % of the cases examined showed inverted distributions. The combined percentages of helper and suppressor T cells consistently exceeded 100 % in ITP indicating the presence of increased OKT4 + 8 + cells in these patients. A cell population, previously defined as SRBC positive and OKT3 negative, was found in the normal group and in ITP patients following splenectomy but was absent in those patients with intact spleens. The role of these changes in the pathogenesis of ITP is discussed.