B- and T-lymphocyte subpopulations in polycythemia vera

Peripheral blood B and T lymphocytes were studied in 100 patients with polycythemia vera (PV), in whom no immunoglobulin abnormalities were detected. A significant decrease of the total lymphocyte count as well as of the relative and absolute values of B- and T-cell count was found. These results were unaffected by the modality of treatment, i.e., repeated phlebotomies or 32 P. However, in 28.8% of the PV patients a negative graft-versus-host reaction was found. This finding was significantly higher among the 32 P-treated PV patients (46.6%), when compared to the phlebotomy-treated ones (25.3%), suggesting possible reduced immuno competence in the 32 P-treated patients.