[Lymphocyte subpopulations in gestosis]

Lymphocyte subsets from peripheral venous blood of 11 patients with preeclampsia were enumerated by monoclonal antibodies and compared to the values of 10 normal term pregnant women. All women were in their last trimester of pregnancy. The number of B and T cells was similar in both groups. In the preeclampsia group, more helper T cells could be shown, whereas the number of suppressor T cells was reduced. Thus, the helper/suppressor ratio was increased from 2.01 in normal pregnancies to 3.97 in preeclamptic patients. In two patients with a true-positive angiotensin stress test similar changes as in preeclampsia could be seen. In only one out of five patients with preeclampsia the helper/suppressor ratio returned to normal values four to five weeks after delivery.