Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations after splenectomy for trauma.

Absolute and percent numbers of peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) subpopulations were evaluated using monoclonal antibodies in 20 subjects splenectomised for trauma. A significant increase was observed in the absolute counts of total PBL, B, null and Leu 7+ cells and in the percent counts of null and Leu 7+ lymphocytes. The percent numbers of OKT11+, OKT4+ and OKT8+ lymphocytes were significantly reduced, but the OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio was not statistically different from normal controls. The increase in B and killer/natural killer cells may provide a compensatory mechanism responsible for surveillance against infections and tumors in splenectomised patients, despite the numerous humoral and cellular abnormalities they commonly display.