Increased numbers of suppressor-cytotoxic cells in a patient with carbamazepine hypersensitivity.
A patient is presented with a clinical syndrome of erythroderma, fever, liver function abnormalities, eosinophilia and atypical lymphocytosis due to carbamazepine hypersensitivity. Immunological analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was performed using mouse monoclonal antibodies against T-cell and Ia antigens. A 12-fold increase in the absolute numbers of suppressor-cytotoxic T-cells was found, resulting in a reversed helper/suppressor ratio. Also the number of Ia-positive cells was greatly increased. Carbamazepine may induce a reversible proliferation and activation of the suppressor-cytotoxic subset of T-cells. Implications and pathogenetic possibilities are briefly discussed.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D002220:Carbamazepine