CIRCULATING LYMPHOCYTE PHENOTYPIC SURFACE-MARKERS IN ANXIETY DISORDERPATIENTS AND NORMAL VOLUNTEERS

Background: Although the relationship between stress and immune functi on is an area of active investigation, there have been few reports stu dying the relationship between anxiety disorders and the immune system . Methods: This study employs flow cytometry to measure circulating ly mphocyte phenotypic markers in 20 medication-free patients with panic disorder, 33 medication-free patients with generalized social phobia, and 32 healthy controls. Results: Both patients with panic disorder an d patients with social phobia had increased CD16 (natural killer) cell numbers. Panic disorder patients also had increased numbers of CD19 c ells (B lymphocytes), human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR-presenting cell s, and more cells with the combination of HLA-DR and CD19 surface mark ers (B lymphocytes with HLA-DR or their surface). Conclusions: These p reliminary data suggest that subjects with panic disorder may have alt erations in circulating lymphocyte profiles. (C) 1998 Society of Biolo gical Psychiatry.