title: T-lymphocyte subsets in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) is a common clinical problem in Africa. To determine if there is a defect of immune regulation in patients with IDC, the percentage of total T-cells (OKT3 positive), helper/inducer cells (OKT4 positive) and suppressor/cytotoxic cells (OKT8 positive) were measured using monoclonal antibodies in 20 patients with IDC and in 20 age-matched normal control subjects. The percentage of helper/inducer cells was significantly higher in the IDC patients (45 +/- 2% mean +/- standard error) than in the normal subjects (33 +/- 2%) and 8 of the 20 IDC patients had a helper/suppressor cell ratio (OKT4/OKT8) higher than the normal range. Of the 8 patients with this abnormality, 7 were studied within 3 months of the onset of their illness. Results suggest that an excessive immune reaction is part of the pathogenesis of IDC in Africans.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Sanderson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koech
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Iha
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Ojiambo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000145:classification; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal