Impaired lymphocyte transformation in intestinal lymphangiectasia: evidence for at least two functionally distinct lymphocyte populations in man

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Abstract

Intestinal lymphangiectasia is a disease characterized by hypoproteinemia and edema resulting from protein-losing gastroenteropathy secondary to abnormal intestinal lymphatics. Immunologic abnormalities associated with this disease include hypogammaglobulinemia, lymphocytopenia, skin anergy, and impaired allograft rejection. In the present study, the in vitro blastogenic transformation of lymphocytes from 12 patients with intestinal lymphangiectasia was assessed in order to gain insight into the mechanism of the cellular immune defect in this disease.

Authors

Paul L. Weiden, R. Michael Blaese, Warren Strober, Jerome B. Block, Thomas A. Waldmann