T-lymphocyte subpopulation changes during hemolysis in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient children.

Lymphocyte subpopulations were studied by means of sheep red blood cell (SRC)-rosetting technique and OKT11, OKT3, OKT4, and OKT8 monoclonal antibodies in ten Sicilian glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient children during the hemolytic crisis due to fava bean ingestion. The number of SRC-rosetting lymphocytes was significantly reduced, while the number of OKT3-positive cells was normal. An inversion of the OKT4/OKT8 ratio was observed, due to a decrease of OKT4-positive cells and an increase of OKT8-positive cells. All these abnormalities reverted to normal in the four children studied after recovery.