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Predominant cutaneous infiltration by OKT6- and OKT8-positive cells in a case of Sézary syndrome

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Summary

Using an immunoperoxidase (skin biopsy) and an immunofluorescence (peripheral blood, bone marrow punctate) technique, and monoclonal antibodies raised against peripheral mature lymphocytes, T helper subsets, T suppressor subsets, and Langerhans cells, we found a predominant dermal infiltration with lymphocytes of the suppressor phenotype and a predominant epidermal infiltration with Langerhans cells in a patient with Sézary syndrome (cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, CTCL). Repeated peripheral blood examinations showed an increased percentage of lymphocytes of the helper phenotype. A bone marrow examination revealed a ratio of suppressor/helper subsets of 1:4. The findings in the skin seem to be inconsistent with most of the results of previous studies in patients with CTCL; the significance of these findings is discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Martinistr. 52, D-2000, Hamburg 20, Germany

    K. Meissner & M. Jänner

  2. Institute for Pathology, University Hospital, Martinistr. 52, D-2000, Hamburg 20, Germany

    Th. Löning

  3. Department of Haematology and Oncology, University Hospital, Martinistr. 52, D-2000, Hamburg 20, Germany

    M. Heckmayr & R. Zschaber

Authors
  1. K. Meissner
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  2. Th. Löning
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  3. M. Heckmayr
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  4. R. Zschaber
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  5. M. Jänner
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Additional information

This work is dedicated to Prof. Th. Nasemann on occasion of his 60th birthday

This study was partly supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Grant no. Lo 285/2-1

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Meissner, K., Löning, T., Heckmayr, M. et al. Predominant cutaneous infiltration by OKT6- and OKT8-positive cells in a case of Sézary syndrome. Arch Dermatol Res 275, 168–174 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00510048

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00510048

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