Abstract

The aim of the study was to detect CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocyte counts of patients with severe pulmonary tu - berculosis (TB) and compare these parameters in patients with mild pulmonary TB and healthy controls.

Twenty HIV (–), severely ill patients with pulmonary TB, 20 HIV (–), mildly ill patients with pulmonary TB, and 20 healthy people were included in the study. T-lymphocyte subgroups (CD4+ and CD8+) were detected by flow cytometry in all groups before and three months after the treatment for both TB groups. In severely ill group, CD4+ T-lymphocytes (269±101/mm 3 ) were found to be decreased when compared those of mildly ill group (596±205/mm 3 ) and healthy controls (714±174/mm 3 ) (p<0.001).

In severely ill group, CD4/CD8 ratios were lower than those in mildly ill and healthy controls (p<0.01). Three cases in severely ill group died due to uncontrolled disease.

In severe pulmonary TB cases, CD4+ T-lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 ratio may fall and such abnormalities in Tlymphocytes may improve with appropriate treatment.