Changes in lymphocyte subpopulations and CD3+/DR+ expression in sepsis

Objective To detect lymphocyte subpopulations and CD3+/DR + expression in sepsis. Methods In a prospective clinical study we evaluated sulpopulations of lymphocytes and percentage of CD3(+)/HLA-DR+ lymphocytes using two-color flow cytometry in 40 patients with sepsis and compared them with 34 healthy adults. Results Septic patients, when compared with healthy controls, have signifcantly lower percentage and absolute numbers of total T lymphocytes and CD4 T lymphocytes (P < 0.01). Absolute numbers of CD8 T lymphocytes, NK cells, CD3+/DR + lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 ratio were also decreased (P < 0.01). The percentage of B lymphocytes was increased (P < 0.01). Conclusion Our results are in agreement with previous findings in patients with sepsis after major surgery or trauma. The decreases in the percentage and absolute numbers of circulating lymphocyte subsets in non-surgical sepsis could represent a general reaction to stress. Increased percentage of B lymphocytes is most probably related to the bacterial etiology of the disease.