Retrospective study correlating clinical infectious history and peripheral blood T-cell subpopulations in cancer, GvH and HIV+ patients.
The CD4+ CD8- inducer helper cell and the CD4- CD8+ cytotoxic/suppressor cell absolute numbers were measured in the peripheral blood of patients with various pathological conditions: with leukemia-lymphomas or solid tumors, patients with bone marrow grafts suffering from GvH, HIV-1 asymptomatic carriers, ARC and AIDS patients. The study was carried out during observation periods when they were not suffering from opportunistic infections and were untreated. In all the groups a decrease of the CD4+ CD8- cell absolute number was observed. In the leukemia-lymphoma and solid tumor bearing patients the CD4- CD8+ absolute value was lower than normal, while in the GvH- and HIV-infected patients, it was significantly higher. The clinical follow-up of each group indicates that GvH, ARC and AIDS patients developed infection in 40-68% of the cases, ie the only groups at risk of infection are those in which the CD4- CD8+ absolute values are high: we suggest that the balance CD4+ versus CD8+ should be considered rather the absolute CD4+ when discussing appropriate use of immuno-regulators.
Mathé
G
G
Institut du Cancer et d'Immunogénétique (CNRS and Association Claude Bernard), Villejuif, France.
Meyer
P
P
Brienza
S
S
Gil-Delgado
M
M
Orbach-Arbouys
S
S
Itzhaki
M
M
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015459:Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies