The alteration of lymphocyte subsets in idiopathic granulomatous mastitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM

This study analyzed peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets to determine their role in the etiopathogenesis of IGM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study includes 51 pathologically proven IGM patients (active disease: 26 and in remission: 25) and 28 healthy volunteers. The analyses of lymphocyte subsets were performed by flow cytometric immunophenotyping.

RESULTS

The percentage of T helper lymphocyte of all IGM patients were lower than control groups (p = 0.001). Absolute cytotoxic T lymphocyte count (p = 0.03), both percentage (p = 0.035) and absolute count (p = 0.002) of the natural killer cells, and both percentage (p = 0.038) and absolute count (p = 0.008) of natural killer T cells, were higher than the control group. The T helper lymphocyte percentage of the patients with active disease was lower than the control group (p = 0.0003). The absolute cytotoxic T lymphocyte (p = 0.029) and natural killer T cells (p = 0.012) of the patients with active disease were higher than the control group.

CONCLUSION

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis is defined as a localized form of granulomatous disorders. However, the observed changes in T cells, NK, and NKT cells suggest that there is systemic immune dysregulation in patients with IGM.