[Dynamics of T- and B-lymphocytes in the infectious process according to quantitative cytochemical findings]

Cytophotometric analysis with the use of autologous erythrocytes showed that T lymphocytes had the lowest RNA content and poorly differentiated lymphocytes had the highest RNA content, while in B cells an intermediate RNA level was observed, thus, the relative content of RNA could indicate to which particular system different peripheral blood cells belonged. In active infectious process, irrespective of the etiology of the disease, a decrease in both relative and absolute amounts of T lymphocytes and an increase in the amounts of poorly differentiated and B lymphocytes were observed.