Lymphopenia and abnormal balance of T-lymphocyte subpopulations in toxic epidermal necrolysis.
A lymphopenia (peripheral-blood-lymphocyte count less than 1,000/mm3) was observed in seven out of ten patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). The enumeration of T-lymphocyte subsets with monoclonal antibodies showed a decreased number of pan T-lymphocytes (OKT3-positive), which was related to a profound depletion of OKT4-positive cells. In contrast, OKT8-positive cell counts were not significantly changed. This abnormal balance of T-lymphocytes was linked to the acute phase of the disease and was not found after recovery. The pathogenetic mechanisms of such T-lymphocyte abnormalities in TEN remain unclear.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal