The distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations in an infant with primary intestinal lymphangiectasia.

Authors analysed in an infant with primary intestinal lymphangiectasia the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and the distribution of T lymphocyte subpopulations in the jejunal mucosa with immunohistochemical methods. It was established that the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and of the cells belonging to the various T lymphocytes markedly decreased in the patient compared to controls, however the decrease of the CD4 cells was less than that of CD8 cells, thus the CD4/CD8 ratio increased. Authors conclude that the increase of CD4/CD8 ratio in the jejunal mucosa may explain the absence of frequent gut infections in intestinal lymphangiectasia.