Imbalance of T cell subpopulations in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia of the B cell type.

T cell enriched mononuclear cells from the peripheral blood of 20 patients with histologically and immunologically defined chronic lymphocytic leukaemia of the B cell type (B-CLL) and 20 healthy individuals of various ages were investigated with T cell-specific monoclonal antibodies (OKT 4 and OKT 8) with regard to their subpopulation distribution. In B-CLL, a significant increase of lymphocytes reacting with OKT 8 could be demonstrated. Whereas there was a ratio of OKT 4 to OKT 8 of 1 X 72 in the control group, an OKT 4 to OKT 8 ratio of 0 X 67 was found in the B-CLL as a whole. With increasing clinical stage in accordance with the Rai scheme (Rai et al., 1975), a further displacement of this ratio in favour of OKT 8 positive cells was found. These results clearly show that, in peripheral blood of patients with B-CLL, an abnormal distribution pattern of circulating T cell subpopulations is present and that this also has prognostic relevance.