Lesional T-cell subset in post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis.
BACKGROUND
The pathogenesis of post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is ill understood. This study was carried out to find the percentage of T-helper and T-suppressor cells in lesional tissue and their probable role in the pathogenesis of PKDL.


METHODS
An immunoperoxidase monoclonal antibody technique was used to characterize and quantify the subsets of T lymphocytes in the infiltrate in 25 patients with PKDL.


RESULTS
The ratio of T-helper to T-suppressor cells was 0.87 in hypopigmented macules and 0.85 in nodule and/or plaque lesions of PKDL.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, there was a definite preponderance of T-suppressor cells over T-helper cells in both types of skin lesions of PKDL. Further studies should be undertaken on larger numbers of patients to compare T-cell subsets both in skin lesions and the circulation, in order to determine the pathogenesis of PKDL.
Rathi
Sanjay K
SK
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Pandhi
Ravindra K
RK
Chopra
Prem
P
Khanna
Neena
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000145:classification*