Occurrence of lymphopenia in heart failure.

The incidence of lymphopenia and eosinopenia in 10 patients admitted to hospital in heart failure was compared with that in 11 ;cold' admissions and 10 with acute diseases admitted via the Casualty Department. Plasma cortisol determinations were made simultaneously. A significant difference was found between the heart failure group and the ;cold' controls in respect of lymphopenia, eosinopenia, and cortisol levels. The ;acute' control patients showed an overlap with both groups. It is concluded that this lymphopenia is part of a response to stress.Seventy-two hours after admission there was no significant change in these values although the figures suggest the beginning of a return to normal.