Lymphocyte subsets in lymph nodes of homosexual men with generalized unexplained lymphadenopathy. Correlation with morphology and blood changes.

Frozen sections of lymph nodes from 20 homosexual men with chronic generalized lymphadenopathy and of lymph nodes showing follicular hyperplasia from 14 patients without known risk factors of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome were studied with monoclonal antibodies to T-cell subsets and to the HLA-DR antigen. In T-cell areas of the lymph nodes, excluding tertiary paracortical nodules, the mean T-helper-to-T-suppressor ratio (Th/Ts) +/- 1 SEM was significantly lower in the homosexual group (1.07 +/- 0.06) when compared with the control group (2.49 +/- 0.23), P less than .0001. In seven homosexual men, cell suspensions from the same lymph nodes were analyzed using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Results obtained by this method and by immunohistochemistry were comparable except in a homosexual man whose lymph node contained large tertiary paracortical nodules. Although the Th/Ts ratios of the blood and lymph nodes of the same patients were both low, there was not good correlation between the two sets of values (r = .2). Furthermore, there was not good correlation between blood lymphocyte count and lymph node Th/Ts ratios (r = .45). The lymph node Th/Ts ratios of the homosexual patients show less variations compared with the control group. The patient who subsequently developed multiple opportunistic infections had the lowest value. Whether the lymph node Th/Ts ratio has prognostic significance in patients with the lymphadenopathy syndrome warrants further investigation.