title: T-lymphocyte subpopulations in tuberculosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tuberculosis is associated with both qualitative and quantitative defects in the cell mediated immune response. The changes that occur in the lymphocyte profile in blood in children with tuberculosis are not well understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Referral hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lymphocyte subpopulations were determined by flow cytometry in 17 healthy tuberculin positive children, in 22 children with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis and in 8 of these children after antituberculosis therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Absolute numbers and percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells were reduced in children with tuberculosis, compared to controls. CD4+ counts increased significantly following antituberculosis treatment, compared to baseline values. In contrast, the proportion of T cells expressing the gdT cell receptor was similar in tuberculosis patients and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with tuberculosis have a systemic decrease in the proportion and number of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells which reverses during therapy.
authors.affiliation: Tuberculosis Research Center, Chennai, 600 031, India. Center for pulmonary and Infectious Disease Control, University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swaminathan
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Nandini
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Somu
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Narayanan
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD