The phytohaemagglutinin response and lymphocyte subpopulations in young Blacks and Indians with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The lymphocyte transformation response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and the relative numbers of T, B and null lymphocytes were studied in 32 insulin-dependent diabetics and 32 healthy matched controls. The mean stimulation index (Sl) of the 18 patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus was significantly lower than that of controls. No difference was seen in the mean Sl values of well-controlled diabetics compared with controls. Neither the well-controlled group nor the poorly controlled group showed any significant differences in the mean counts of the various lymphocyte subpopulations when compared with controls.