The alteration of lymphocyte subsets in idiopathic granulomatous mastitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM This study analyzed peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets to determine their role in the etiopathogenesis of IGM. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study includes 51 pathologically proven IGM patients (active disease: 26 and in remission: 25) and 28 healthy volunteers. The analyses of lymphocyte subsets were performed by flow cytometric immunophenotyping. RESULTS The percentage of T helper lymphocyte of the all IGM patients were lower than control groups (p = .001). Absolute cytotoxic T lymphocyte count (p=.03), both percentage (p=.035) and absolute count (p=.002) of the natural killer cells, and both percentage (p=.038) and absolute count (p=.008) of the naturel killer T cells were higher than control group. The percentage of the T helper lymphocyte of the patients with active disease was lower than control group (p = .0003). Absolute cytotoxic T lymphocyte (p=.029) and natural killer T cells (p=.012) of the patients with active disease were higher than control group. CONCLUSION Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis is defined as a localized form of granulomatous disorders. However, the observed changes in T cells, NK and NKT cells suggested that there is systemic immune dysregulation in patients with IGM.