Serum immunoglobulins and lymphocyte subpopulations derangement in Turner's syndrome

Abnormalities of the proportions of peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations and of immunoglobulin serum levels were found in twenty patients affected by Turner's syndrome. A slight but significantly decreased percentage of circulating T and B cells, and increased percentage of null cells and a decreased in vitro responsiveness of lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin, concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen were found in Turner's syndrome patients. IgG serum level was found significantly decreased in comparison with age-matched fifty-seven normal males and fifty-seven normal females and IgM serum level was intermediate between female and male values; Turner's syndrome patients with monosomy had an IgM serum concentration very close to male values. The derangement of T and B lymphocyte subpopulations, probably related to the aneuploidy, does not seem to be a severe one but it could account for the immunoglobulin abnormalities and for the association of Turner's syndrome with immunological disorders such as autoimmune diseases. The role of X chromosome on IgM serum level is discussed.