T lymphocyte subpopulations defined by monoclonal antibodies in essential mixed cryoglobulinemia and in secondary cryoglobulinemias

T lymphocyte subpopulations defined by monoclonal antibodies were determined in patients with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia (EMC) and secondary cryoglobulinemias (SC). A decrease of circulating lymphocytes and a reduction in the absolute number of T3+, T4+ and T8+ (p<0.01) as well as in the percentage of T4+ lymphocytes (p<0.05) were found in EMC. A significant decrease of T8+ cells, both in percentage (p<0.01) and absolute number (p<0.001), was evidenced in SC, while T3+ and T4+ cell counts were not significantly different from those of healthy controls.