A comparative study of alteration in lymphocyte subsets among varicella, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, scarlet fever, measles, and Kawasaki disease

Changes in the lymphocyte subsets of 13 patients with varicella, 5 with hand-foot-and-mouth disease, 4 with scarlet fever, 10 with measles and 20 with Kawasaki disease were examined by immunofluorescent flow cytometric analysis using monoclonal antibodies against lymphocyte cell surface antigens. The results were compared with those of age-matched normal controls. A significant increase in the percentage of Leu-2a positive (Leu-2a+) cells was shown during the early convalescence of varicella, scarlet fever and measles. A significant decrease in the percentage of Leu-3a+ cells during the acute phase was common to all the diseases examined, and a significant decrease of Leu-4+ cells was observed except in measles. As a result, a significant decrease in the Leu-3a+/Leu-2a+ ratio was common to all the diseases examined during the acute and/or early convalescent phases. Leu-M3+ cells increased significantly in varicella, scarlet fever, and Kawasaki disease. HLA-DR+ cells increased significantly in varicella and Kawasaki disease. No significant changes in the proportions of Leu-7+, Leu-10+, and 2H7+ cells were found throughout the course of all the diseases examined.