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Abstract

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Immunological factors in the pathogenesis of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) were suggested previously on the basis of the demonstration of mononuclear cell infiltrates and autoantibodies against the myocardium. OBJECTIVE: Was to determine the changes in the percentage of T cell subsets in peripheral blood in order to investigate the role of cellular immunoregulation in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. PATIENT AND METHOD: The surface markers of peripheral T and B lymphocytes were detected and percentages of helper (CD4+) and suppressor (CD8+) T lymphocytes subsets in the peripheral blood and their ratio. (CD4+/CD8+) were determined in 62 patients with IDC and in 50 healthy controls. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between IDC and control groups with respect to CD4+ T cell subsets ( p=0.4). CD8+ T cell percentage was significantly decreased in patients with IDC than in controls (p=0.005). CD4+/CD8+ ratio was markedly higher in patients with IDC than controls (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: Decreased CD8+ T cell subset is the cause of increased CD4+/CD8+ ratio, which may imply decreased self-tolerance and an immunoregulatory defect in the pathogenesis of IDC.

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