title: The effect of plasmapheresis and drug immunosuppression on T-cell subsets as defined by monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: The number of total T-cells and the number of helper/inducer T-cells decreased in 27 of 31 patients with immunologic disorders treated with plasmapheresis and drug immunosuppression. The number of suppressor/cytotoxic T-cells increased in the majority of patients. The helper/inducer to suppressor/cytotoxic cell ratio, which was initially elevated in 26 of 31 patients, decreased significantly in all but 2 patients after therapy. Ten patients were already on drug immunosuppression at the time plasmapheresis was started, and all 10 showed increased helper/inducer to suppressor/cytotoxic cell ratio despite their drug therapy. The helper/inducer to suppressor/cytotoxic cell ratio decreased in all ten patients after plasma exchange. The number and the percentage of total T-cells and helper/inducer cells decreased from prepheresis levels while the number and the percentage of suppressor/cytotoxic cells increased. Plasmapheresis, in combination with drug immunosuppression, was effective in decreasing the elevated helper/inducer to suppressor/cytotoxic cell ratio in disorders of the immune system. In contrast, patients on immunosuppressive drug therapy alone had persistently high immunoregulatory ratio.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents