title: Lymphocyte populations in peripheral blood and in liver biopsy specimens from patients with acute and chronic hepatitis.
abstract: Lymphocyte subpopulations, both in peripheral blood and in liver specimens obtained with the Menghini needle, were evaluated by E and EA rosette technique in 30 patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH), 8 patients with chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH), 11 patients with acute viral hepatitis (AVH) and 11 patients with normal histology or minimal non-specific changes. Circulating E-RCF concentration and percentage were significantly decreased in CAH and CPH patients. Only one patient with acute hepatitis had a decreased number of circulating E-RFC. The ratio of peripheral blood E-RFC to liver tissue E-RFC was decreased in the patient with chronic disease. In all the groups studied, the percentage of liver tissue and peripheral EA-RFC was similar to that found in the blood from controls. Significant differences were not found between patients with and without evidence for HB viral infection.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D012397:Rosette Formation