B and T lymphocytes in blood and cerebrospinal fluid in acute aseptic meningitis.

B and T cells in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were calculated by using the surface membrane immunoglobulin marker for B cells and the capacity to bind sheep erythrocytes to form 'rosettes' as a marker to T cells. Patients with acute aseptic meningitis due to mumps virus or other etiologic agents and with various chronic neurological diseases were investigated. Significantly higher T-cell and lower B-cell values were observed in CSF than in blood in all three groups. No significant differences were found between the three patient groups. An elevation of B cells and a depression of T cells were observed in blood in patients with aseptic meningitis during the course of the disease.