Quantification of lymphocyte subsets in AIDS associated with suspected cytomegalovirus infection

The present study investigates the number of immunoregulatory cells in 55 patients suspected of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrone(AIDS) associated with cytomegalovirus(CMV) infection. Patients were divided into three groups: RISK(13 cases), LAS/ARC(21 cases) and AIDS(21 cases) according to epidemiological and clinical findings and using CDC criteria. The CMV infection was suggested based on clinical and serological evaluations. No significant difference in CMV seropositivity was observed among the groups (66,7% to 77,0%), althougha diminished number of cases 3 (14,3%) with CMV-IgM antibody was detected in AIDS group. Phenotypic analysis of leukocytes, lymphocytes and lymphocyte subsets was realized. The results obtained were similar between CMV-seropositive and CMV-seronegative patients in each group studied. On the other hand, the number of T lymphocytes and T helper/inducer lymphocytes were markedly diminished in the LAS/ARC and AIDS groups. The number of T suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes was increased in all groups analysed. These alterations in T lymphocyte subsets are responsible for the reversal ratio observed in these patients.