A Cross Sectional Study on T Cells and Subsets in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and their Association with Clinical Phenotype

T cells in B chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) have been reported to show qualitative and quantitative alterations, thereby regulating the antitumor immune response. We evaluated the absolute count, percentages of T cells and subsets and their association with disease parameters in Indian patients. 45 treatment naive CLL cases and 10 healthy controls were evaluated for CD3 + Tcells, CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells percentage by flowcytometry. The absolute counts were obtained by multiplication with absolute lymphocyte counts obtained on cell counter. The clinical characteristics (age, sex, Rai stage, B symptoms, CD38 expression) were analysed for any association with alteration of these cells (percentages, absolute counts, ratio with monoclonal B cell count) and CD4: CD8 ratio. The mean absolute count of CD3 + T cell, CD4 + T cell and CD8 + T cells was significantly higher (p   0.05). Younger CLL patients (  0.05). Significant alterations in T cells and their subsets were observed in CLL. A trend towards advanced stage, CD38 expression, presentation an early age was seen with increase in CD8 + T cell counts.