Evaluation of the immune status in patients with primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome.

The total white blood cell count, percentage and total count of lymphocytes, CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ subpopulations of T-lymphocytes, population of CD20+ B-lymphocytes, the ability of polymorphonuclears to phagocyte yeasts, the ability of polymorphonuclear cells to kill serum-resistant strain of E. coli and O2-dependent killing capacity of polymorphonuclears were evaluated in a group of 10 patients with the sicca syndrome and in a group of 9 patients with secondary Sjögren's syndrome and in a healthy control group. There was found a significant decrease in the relative and absolute counts of CD4+ helper/inducer T cells and in the activity of phygocytic cells in both groups of patients with Sjögren's syndrome as compared with the control group. There was no significant difference in the evaluated parameters between primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome patients.