Altered blood lymphocyte subclasses in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes were studied by flow cytofluorimetry and monoclonal antibody techniques in 107 patients with ulcerative colitis and in 20 healthy controls of similar ages. Total T, T helper (TH), and T cytotoxic/suppressor (TC/S) lymphocytes were defined by the monoclonal antibodies OKT3, OKT4 and OKT8, respectively, while B lymphocytes were defined by surface immunoglobulin. Patients had a significantly (P less than 0.05) lower proportion of TC/S lymphocytes than the controls, and patients with quiescent disease had a reduced proportion of B lymphocytes compared to controls and those with active disease. Patients with marked mucosal dysplasia had a significantly (P less than 0.025) lower proportion of TH lymphocytes and a higher (P less than 0.01) proportion of B lymphocytes than those without dysplasia. There were no significant associations between lymphocyte levels and any other clinicopathological features assessed.