[Rosette forming B- and T-lymphocytes in allergic contact eczema (author's transl)]

The number of rosette forming lymphocytes with mouse and sheep red blood cells was examined in the time course of more localized (n = 16) and generalized (n = 12) allergic contact eczema. 1. In 25 healthy probands the mean number of B and T lymphocytes were 10 +/- 2.1% and 51 +/- 4.9%, respectively. 2. In generalized eczema a short significant increase of the number of both lymphocyte populations was observed. At the first day of examination 12 +/- 1.6% (p less than or equal to 1%) B and 59.1 +/- 5% (p less than or equal to 0.1%) T lymphocytes were counted. At the second day only the number of T lymphocytes (55 +/- 4.8%; p less than or equal to 5%) was increased, at the third day the number of T lymphocytes had normalized, too. 3. In the more localized eczema no changes in the number of lymphocytes could be found.