T-cell alterations in late postpoliomyelitis.

The immunologic status of patients with prior poliomyelitis was studied using two-color flow cytometric analyses. Ten lymphocyte subsets including subsets of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells were examined. Eighteen patients presented with clinical symptoms compatible with the postpolio syndrome. This group was compared with 18 asymptomatic postpolio survivors and 22 age-matched healthy controls. The results demonstrated significant alterations in CD4+ subsets in the postpolio group as a whole when compared with normal controls. These findings reveal definite alterations in the immune status of postpolio survivors and raise the possibility that immunologic factors may contribute to late disease progression.