[The lymphocyte phenotype of patients with different forms of diphtheritic infection and of bacterial carriers].

The subpopulation composition of lymphocytes in patients with different forms of diphtheria infection before treatment was studied by the method of laser cytometry with the use of monoclonal antibodies. Statistically significant differences in the characteristics of cell-mediated immunity between groups of diphtheria patients and carriers were obtained. In cases of diphtheria with different degrees of severity an essential decrease in the content of T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes was established. The most prolonged changes affected cells carrying differentiating antigens CD3, CD4, CD8, CD72. Their number increased by day 5 of the disease, while the number of activated cells (CD21 and HLA-DR) progressively decreased. The correlation between the gravity of the course of diphtheria infection and the state of T-cell-mediated immunity was established.