title: Study of T-lymphocyte subpopulation in HBsAg-positive pregnant women.
abstract: Pregnancy can alter the immunologic status, especially it can suppress the cell-mediated immunity. The super-imposition of viral infection on the pregnant state leading to further immunosuppression was the subject of this study. 1109 pregnant women were enrolled and screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier status; 25 HBsAg carriers were identified by reverse passive haemagglutination assay (RPHA) and their T-lymphocyte subsets were determined using monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs). It was observed that there was a significant fall in the total T-cells (CD3+) and T-helper cells (CD4+) in the pregnant HBsAg carriers accompanied by a rise in the T-suppressor cell (CD8+) population as compared to HBsAg-negative pregnant controls. These data demonstrate a weakening of immune status in pregnancy associated with HBsAg carrier state.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kotmire
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Ganguly
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koicha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens