Lymphocyte changes in beta-thalassaemia major.
Lymphocyte subpopulations were studied in 20 hypertransfused patients with beta-thalassaemia major, some of whom had been splenectomised. B-lymphocytes were normal but T-lymphocytes were decreased in all patients. The T-cell count was lower in the splenectomised patients than in the nonsplenectomised ones. In the former, the active rosette-forming lymphocytes were also diminished, but the difference was not significant. In all patients the percentage of null cells was greater and the activity of K-cells increased compared with controls.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes; D008297:Male; D013156:Splenectomy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy