Effects of two different hydrocortisone doses on human peripheral blood lymphocyte nucleologram

The effect of 200 and 500 mg of hydrocortisone hemisuccinate given i.v. on the circulating lymphocyte nucleologram was studied in 12 healthy volunteers. Transient lymphopenia was observed in all treated subjects, with the nadir at 3 to 9 h after drug administration. An evaluation of the lymphocyte nucleologram, at this time, showed a statistically significant decrease in mono- and binucleolated lymphocytes. By 24-36 h, the number of total lymphocytes and the nucleologram had returned to baseline values. No differences were revealed among the two groups of subjects. The role of lymphocyte redistribution and of lymphocytolysis to explain the lymphocytopenia and the behaviour of lymphocyte nucleologram is discussed.