Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: clinical and immunologic study of 23 patients.

Lymphocyte subpopulations ("active' T cells, total T cells, and B cells), leukocyte migration, lymphocyte transformation, complements (CH50, C3, and C4), and immune complexes in serum and cerebrospinal fluid were studied in 23 patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. The percentage of active T cells was normal. The number of patients with positive migration inhibitory response to phytoyhemagglutinin was lower than controls, corresponding to the diminished percentage of total T cells in patients. C1q binding (immune complex formation) was found in the sera of 10 patients.