The causes of increase and decrease in T-lymphocytes
Last reviewed: 19.10.2021
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Reduction of the absolute number of T-lymphocytes in the blood testifies to the insufficiency of cellular immunity, increase - about the hyperactivity of immunity and the presence of immunoproliferative diseases.
The development of any inflammatory process throughout its entire course is accompanied by a decrease in the content of T-lymphocytes. This is observed in inflammations of the most diverse etiology: various infections, nonspecific inflammatory processes, destruction of damaged tissues and cells after surgery, trauma, burns, heart attack, destruction of malignant tumor cells, etc. The degree of decrease in the number of T-lymphocytes as a whole depends on the intensity of the inflammatory process, although this pattern is not always observed. The increase in the number of T-lymphocytes in the dynamics of the inflammatory process is considered a favorable sign, however, a high T-lymphocyte count with pronounced clinical manifestations, on the contrary, is an unfavorable indication indicating a tendency to chronic. Complete completion of the inflammatory process is accompanied by a normalization of the number of T-lymphocytes. The increase in the relative amount of T-lymphocytes is not of great clinical significance, but an increase in the absolute number of T-lymphocytes in the blood is very important for the diagnosis of leukemia.
Diseases and conditions leading to a change in the number of T-lymphocytes (CD3) in the blood
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Increase in the |
Decrease in the indicator |
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Hyperactivity of immunity Acute and chronic lymphatic leukemia Cesary Syndrome |
Congenital defects of the immune system (primary immunodeficiency states) Acquired secondary immunodeficiency states:
T-cell lymphoma Hairy cell leukemia |