Lymphocyte subpopolation in essential mixed cryoglobulinemia

Lymphocyte subpopulations were evaluated in 31 patients affected by essential mixed cryoglobulinemia, using OKT3, OKT4, and OKT8 monoclonal antibodies in a cytotoxic assay. The patients with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia had a normal number of OKT3+ and OKT4+ cells but significantly lower values of OKT8+ cells compared to healthy controls. When the OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio was considered, patients could be subdivided into 3 main subgroups: 6 patients had a low OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio, 10 patients had a normal ratio, and 15 had a high ratio. This ratio did not correlate with age, sex, disease duration, low corticosteroid therapy or serological hallmarks of the disease. In contrast, purpura and liver involvement were more prevalent in patients with a normal or high OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio, while lung involvement was more prevalent in patients with a low ratio.