Ultrastructure of peripheral blood lymphocytes in some degenerative central nervous system disease.

The ultrastructure of peripheral blood lymphocytes of 30 children with degenerative central nervous system diseases was analyzed. The affected children were divided into four groups. Lysosomal storage were characterized by the storage of membrane-bound inclusions in peripheral lymphocytes. Ceroidlipofuscinosis was manifested by the presence of curvilinear bodies. The appearance of abnormal mitochondria was found in mitochondrial encephalopathies. The tubuloreticular structures seen in lymphocytes of some unclassified cases suggested viral factors that acted in prenatal life. All findings confirm the role of peripheral lymphocytes analysis in the diagnosis of degenerative central nervous system diseases.