Peripheral blood and bone marrow lymphocytes of B chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients

The percentages of lymphocytes subpopulations were assessed in the peripheral blood and bone marrow of B chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients with monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. The absolute number of peripheral T cells is higher compared to healthy subjects; the imbalance of OKT 4 and OKT 8 positive subsets in peripheral blood is characterized by an inversion of the T 4/T 8 ratio. T 4 positive cells are predominant in the bone marrow; the Leu 7 positive population is increased in absolute numbers. These precocious phenomena could be important in the immunodeficiency associated with B CLL and/or in the progression of the disease.