[Changes in lymphocyte subpopulations induced by the administration of thymopentin]

Modifications of the levels of T-helper (T4) and T-suppressor (T8) lymphocytes were assessed, together with their ratio, in 17 subjects who had received thymopentine as an adjuvant to Hevac-B vaccination. Two months after treatment with the immunomodulating drug, T4 lymphocytes were considerably increased whereas absolute levels of T8 lymphocytes were decreased in the majority of patients: this led to a net increase in the T4/T8 ratio. This finding leads to the conclusion that all subjects produced anti-HBs antibodies as a means of protection.