title: Abnormalities of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets in polymyalgia rheumatica.
abstract: The T lymphocyte subsets were studied by monoclonal antibodies in the blood of eight patients with polymyalgia rheumatica. The percentages of circulating T cells (OKT3+) were lower when compared with normal controls (p less than 0.02), as were the proportions of suppressor/cytotoxic (OKT8+) T cells (p less than 0.001), whereas the proportions of helper/inducer (OKT4+) T lymphocytes were not changed. Consequently, the OKT4:OKT8 ratio was higher in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica than in controls (p less than 0.001). On the contrary, circulating B cells were not altered. The decrease in peripheral blood OKT3+ and OKT8+ lymphocyte subsets suggests that there is an impairment of cell-mediated immunity in polymyalgia rheumatica.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D013577:Syndrome; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal