title: Altered blood lymphocyte subclasses in patients with ulcerative colitis.
abstract: Peripheral blood lymphocytes were studied by flow cytofluorimetry and monoclonal antibody techniques in 107 patients with ulcerative colitis and in 20 healthy controls of similar ages. Total T, T helper (TH), and T cytotoxic/suppressor (TC/S) lymphocytes were defined by the monoclonal antibodies OKT3, OKT4 and OKT8, respectively, while B lymphocytes were defined by surface immunoglobulin. Patients had a significantly (P less than 0.05) lower proportion of TC/S lymphocytes than the controls, and patients with quiescent disease had a reduced proportion of B lymphocytes compared to controls and those with active disease. Patients with marked mucosal dysplasia had a significantly (P less than 0.025) lower proportion of TH lymphocytes and a higher (P less than 0.01) proportion of B lymphocytes than those without dysplasia. There were no significant associations between lymphocyte levels and any other clinicopathological features assessed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D001706:Biopsy; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011350:Proctocolitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*