Lymphocyte subsets in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies.

Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies have been studied by using the monoclonal antibodies OKT3 (T cells), OKT4 (helper/inducer T cells) and OKT8 (suppressor/cytotoxic T cells). In addition the numbers of mononuclear cells bearing Ia and monocyte antigens have been assessed by using the monoclonal antibodies OKIa1 and OKM1. No significant differences were found between 10 normal pregnant and 10 non-pregnant subjects. Ten preeclamptic patients were studied and showed an increase in OKT4-positive helper cells. This was significant in terms of percentage of mononuclear cells but not the absolute numbers or the helper/suppressor (OKT4/OKT8) ratio.