An evaluation of some leukocytary phenotypes in subjects with evolutive primary coxarthrosis and in subjects with hip prostheses.

The authors examined 52 patients (36 females and 16 males) of whom 15 affected with evolutive primary coxarthrosis, 27 with hip prostheses for 4 to 13 years, and 10 with a prosthetic implant which was not tolerated. A method of indirect immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies against specific antigens of the cellular surface was used to typify the T-lymphocytic subpopulations (T-helper/inducer and T-suppressor/cytotoxic), the activated mononucleate cells (DR+), and the B-lymphocytes and monocytes. A good correlation between the imbalances in the T-lymphocytic subpopulations, an increase in the activated mononucleate cells (principally due to T-lymphocytes) and the tolerance of the implant were observed. Based on the results obtained, the authors hypothesize the possibility of using the typing of T-lymphocytes and activated mononucleate cells, together with other biohumoral parameters, as indicators of periprosthetic tissue phologosis.