Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with viral warts.
Peripheral blood T-cell subpopulations were evaluated in 32 patients affected by viral warts and in 32 unaffected individuals belonging to a control group. A significant decrease was found in total lymphocytes as well as OKT3 and OKT4 subsets among affected patients. A significant negative correlation was also found between OKT3 and OKT4 numbers as well as OKT4/OKT8 ratio and duration and extent of lesions. A significant positive correlation was found between the duration and the extent of lesions and the percentage of OKT8 subsets, but not the total number of OKT8. These data confirm that a cell-mediated immune deficiency is present in patients with viral warts. We then discuss whether the decrease of cellular immunity in these patients is a primary event or, rather, the result of persistent verrucosis.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014860:Warts / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal