Effect of thymosinα_1 on the percentage of T-lymphocyte subgroups in patients with severe: pulmonary infection

Objective To investigate the effect of thymosinα1 on the percentage of T-lymphocyte subgroups of peripheral blood in the patients with severe pulmonary infection. Methods Twenty patients with severe pulmonary infection according to the diagnostic criteria established by American Thoracic Society were randomly assigned to one of 2 groups (n = 10 each): group A received regular treatment (control) and group B received thymosinα1 besides regular treatment. Venous blood samples were taken before (baseline) and on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th day of treatment for routine blood analysis including white blood cell (WBC) count and percentage of neutrophils and determination of the percentage of T-lymphocyte subgroups including CD3+, CD4+,and CD8+ lymphocytes using indirect immunoflureseence. The symptoms signs and chest-X ray were also checked. Results Before treatment the percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ were significantly lower than normal values while WBC counts and percentage of neutrophils were abnormally high in both groups. On the 4th -7th days of treatment the percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were significantly higher in group B than in group A. The recovery of WBC count and percentage of neutrophils to normal level was also significantly faster in group B than in group A. The cure rate was 90% in group B and 70% in group A, but the difference was not statistically significant The mortality rate within one month after treatment was 40% in group A and 30% in group B. Conclusion Thymosinα1 can increase the percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ lymphocytes as well as CD4+/CD8+ ratio in patients with severe lung infection and may be beneficial to the control of severe infection.