title: Changes in T and B blood lymphocytes after splenectomy.
abstract: The blood lymphocytes of 37 splenectomised patients were analysed by means of T and B lymphocyte surface markers. Sixteen patients had had a splenectomy for non-haematological and 21 for haematological reasons. The results show that 15 had normal numbers of T and B cells; decreased T cells were found in two patients, raised B cells in seven, raised T and B cells in eight, and raised T cells in five patients. Increased numbers of 'null' cells were observed in some patients, especially in those with raised B cells. Follow-up studies indicate that raised levels of T and B cells can be established by one to three months post-splenectomy and may persist, although in some patients the cells fall to normal levels. The lymphocyte proliferative response to phytohaemagglutinin and Concanavalin A in vitro was normal in eight out of nine patients with raised T cells and was depressed in one patient, possibly due to an intrinsic cell defect.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013156:Splenectomy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes; D013997:Time Factors