Characterization of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets in pulmonary sarcoidosis.

The peripheral blood of sarcoidosis patients has been shown to have abnormalities in the T Lymphocyte subsets. There is a consistent reduction in the helper/suppressor T Lymphocyte ratio caused by an increase in suppressor cell percentage as determined by monoclonal antibodies. These findings suggest that the peripheral blood T Lymphocyte subsets may be a useful adjunct for determining the underlying immunological cellular dysfunction in sarcoidosis patients.