Altered Lymphocyte Subpopulatýons in Children Suffering from Recurrent Multiple Infections

Children suffering from a variety of chronic and recurrent infections are suspected to be deficient in one or more than one compartment of their immune system. Peripheral blood lymphocytes of a group of 30 such children were bioassayed through E-rosetting. Thirty healthy children were also included as controls. Significantly lower means of total leukocytes, total lymphocytes and rosetting lymphocytes were obtained with sick children as compared to the respective values for the healthy children. However, the mean non-rosetting cells of the diseased children was 20% higher than that of the controls. The phenomenon is discussed. Plausible association of altered lymphocyte population, autoimmune disorders and malignancies is discussed as well. A general lymphocytopenia even in the healthy children is also being reported.