Studies on T and B lymphocytes by the technique of immune and non-immune rosettes and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in Graves' disease and nontoxic nodular goiter.

T and B lymphocytes were studied by the rosettes technique (R) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Both techniques showed pathogenic changes in Graves' disease and nontoxic nodular goiter patients. In normal subjects, the mean value for T lymphocytes was 63.8% by R and 62.9% by SEM and for B lymphocytes was 39.9% by R and 29.8% by SEM. In Graves' disease the mean value of T lymphocytes was 93.1% by R and 92.8% by SEM whereas B lymphocytes represented 6.6% by R and 11.5% by SEM. In nontoxic nodular goiter, the mean T lymphocytes count was 64.5% by R and 61.5% by SEM, whereas B lymphocytes represented 27.9% by R and 29% by SEM. The increase in T lymphocytes number in Graves' disease confirms the role of cell immunity in its pathogeny unlike nontoxic nodular goiter where this mechanism has not been confirmed.