Abstract
In 158 cases of various liver diseases diagnosed laparoscopically and histologically, peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations were investigated by use of E rosetteforming cells for T lymphocytes and surface immunoglobulin-bearing cells for B lymphocytes.
In acute viral hepatitis, the percentage of T lymphocytes diminished within two weeks after clinical onset of the disease, though normalized thereafter. The percentage of T lymphocytes was normal in chronic inactive hepatitis, while being significantly lower in chronic active hepatitis. It was also lower in chronic alcoholic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis.
The percentage of B lymphocytes was at practically a normal level in chronic liver diseases, except that a slight rise was noticed in liver cirrhosis.
Reference to histological findings disclosed that the percentage of T lymphocytes decreased proportionally to the degree of lobular cell infiltration or focal necrosis, whereas that of B lymphocytes did not correlate with histological features.
