Summary
A lymphopenia (peripheral-blood-lymphocyte count <1,000/mm3) was observed in seven out of ten patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). The enumeration of T-lymphocyte subsets with monoclonal antibodies showed a decreased number of pan T-lymphocytes (OKT3-positive), which was related to a profound depletion of OKT4-positive cells. In contrast, OKT8-positive cell counts were not significantly changed. This abnormal balance of T-lymphocytes was linked to the acute phase of the disease and was not found after recovery. The pathogenetic mechanisms of such T-lymphocyte abnormalities in TEN remain unclear.
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Roujeau, J.C., Moritz, S., Guillaume, J.C. et al. Lymphopenia and abnormal balance of T-lymphocyte subpopulations in toxic epidermal necrolysis. Arch Dermatol Res 277, 24–27 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406477
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406477