Lymphocytes and their subsets in the peripheral blood of hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Using an automatic blood cell counter (Sysmex F500), the white blood cells of peripheral blood from patients can be accurately counted. The lymphocytes and their subsets can also be accurately counted and measured by the use of various fluorescent conjugated monoclonal antibodies and the flow cytometry (FACScan) method. This study disclosed a significant decrease in the lymphocyte, B cell, T cell and T-cell subsets of 45 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients as compared with those of 64 normal healthy individuals and those of 66 asymptomatic hepatitis B virus surface antigen carriers. The natural killer (NK) cells of HCC patients did not show any change as compared with that of the two normal control groups. A significant increase in the number of white blood cells of HCC patients was seen on the first and the seventh postoperative days as compared with the preoperative levels. However, the number of lymphocyte, T cell and NK cells of HCC patients decreased on the first postoperative day as compared with the preoperative levels. A temporary increase in B cells was observed on the seventh postoperative day. We conclude that the immunity of HCC patients is definitely reduced and is further aggravated after surgery.