Changes in lymphocyte subpopulations and CD3+/DR+ expression in sepsis.
OBJECTIVE
To detect lymphocyte subpopulations and CD3+/DR + expression in sepsis.


METHODS
In a prospective clinical study we evaluated subpopulations of lymphocytes and percentage of CD3+/HLA-DR+ lymphocytes using two-color flow cytometry in 40 patients with sepsis and compared them with 34 healthy adults.


RESULTS
Septic patients, when compared with healthy controls, have significantly lower percentage and absolute numbers of total T lymphocytes and CD4 T lymphocytes (P < 0.01). Absolute numbers of CD8 T lymphocytes, NK cells, CD3+/DR + lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 ratio were also decreased (P < 0.01). The percentage of B lymphocytes was increased (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results are in agreement with previous findings in patients with sepsis after major surgery or trauma. The decreases in the percentage and absolute numbers of circulating lymphocyte subsets in non-surgical sepsis could represent a general reaction to stress. Increased percentage of B lymphocytes is most probably related to the bacterial etiology of the disease.
Holub
M
M
Charles University Prague, First Faculty of Medicine, 3rd Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Prague, Czech Republic. holub@wadsworth.org
Klucková
Z
Z
Beneda
B
B
Hobstová
J
J
Huzicka
I
I
Prazák
J
J
Lobovská
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D017252:CD3 Complex; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens