CHANGES OF CD-8 SUBPOPULATIONS IN COMMON VARIABLE IMMUNODEFICIENCY (CVID)

We investigated T-cell subpopulations in 22 patients suffering from CV ID. In 10 out of these patients increased numbers of CD8/CD57 lymphocy tes were estimated by flowcytometry in the peripheral blood. The incre ase of CD8/CD57 cells showed significant correlations with low numbers of CD19 positive B-cells, decreased CD4/CD8-ratio and impaired T-cell reactivity measured by lymphocyte transformation test and by means of recall antigens in vivo. The clinical significance of these changes i n lymphocyte subpopulations has still to be evaluated. it is suggested that virus infections might be of some interest in the pathogenesis a nd in the course of CVID patients.