Measurement of subsets of blood T lymphocyte in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome and its clinical significance

Objective To investigate the changes of subsets of blood T lymphocyte in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and their clinical significance.Methods Subsets of blood T lymphocyte in SARS patients were detected by immunocytochemistry.The patient comprised 31 men and 29 women,aged 18～68 years (average 36.1 years).The results detected in 62 normal subjects served as controls.Results The numbers of CD3 +,CD4 + lymphocytes all significantly decreased in acute phase of SARS patients compared with those in nomal subjects.As the patients′ condition improved,the counts of CD3 +,CD4 + gradually returned to normal.In acute phase,the numbers of CD3 +,CD4 + and CD8 + in SARS patients receiving glucocorticoids showed no significant difference from those in SARS patients not receiving glucocorticoids.In recovery phase the numbers of CD3 +,CD4 + and CD8 + in SARS patients receiving thymopolypeptides showed also no significant difference from those in SARS patients not receiving thymopolypeptides.Conclusion In acute phase the SARS patients were found having their cellular immunity damaged,using glucocorticoids or thymopolypeptides hardly can give effect on the cellular immunity in a short time.