[Determination of lymphocyte lipid peroxide in patients with hepatitis B and its immunological significance]

Lipid peroxide (Lpo) of peripheral blood lymphocytes was measured with fluorescent method in 69 cases of hepatitis B and 35 normal subjects. The lymphocyte Lpo in patients with chronic active and severe hepatitis B was much higher than that in the normal subjects (P less than 0.01). Furthermore, the value of lymphocyte Lpo showed negative correlation with the number of peripheral blood lymphocytes (P less than 0.05) and the activity of interleukin 2 (P less than 0.01) in patients with severe hepatitis B. It also showed negative correlation with the latter in cases with chronic active hepatitis B (P less than 0.05). These data suggest that lipid peroxidation of peripheral blood lymphocytes may be one of the causes of immune dysfunction in patients with hepatitis B.