Clinical significance of lymphocyte subsets changes in the active stage of ulcerative colitis: a retrospective study

Abstract

Objective To observe the change of peripheral blood lymphocytes subsets in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC) and explore its clinical significance. Methods The clinical data and lymphocyte subsets of 40 active UC patients who admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University First Hospital,from June 2007 to January 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who had previously used immunosuppressants or tumor necrosis factor monoclonal antibody were excluded. Seventy-nine subjects with health examination served as controls. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets detected included total T cells, CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, B cells, and NK cells. Only the first detection results of UC patients were used for analysis. Results The proportion of total T cells for UC patients (73.60% ± 8.35% ) was significantly higher than the controls (69. 76% ±7.37%) (P =0.012). CD8+T cell ratio (35.53% ± 10.99%) was significantly higher than the controls ( 30. 56% ± 6. 75 % ) ( P = 0. 011 ). When the UC patients were stratified according to inflammatory involvement,the total T cells, CD8 +T cell, and NK cell ratio were significantly different among pancolitis, non-pancolitis, and the controls ( all P ＜ 0. 05 ). When the UC patients were stratified according to the disease course, the total T cells and CD8 + T cell ratio were significantly different among chronic recurrent/persistent, onset, and the controls ( both P ＜ 0.05 ). When the UC patients were stratified according to the extraintestinal manifestations, the total T cells and CD8 + T cell ratio were significantly different among those with extraintestinal manifestations, those without extraintestinal manifestations, and the controls ( both P ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusions The proportion of total T cells and CD8 + T cells increase in UC patients. Such immune abnormalities are even more distinctive in those UC patients who suffer from pancolitis or chronic recurrent/persistent type or those with extraintestinal manifestations. Key words: Inflammatory bowel disease; Ulcerative colitis; Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets