Lymphocyte subpopulations in chronic active hepatitis: Increase in lymphocytes forming stable E-rosettes

The proportion of blood lymphocytes forming rosettes either with sheep red blood cells (E-rosettes) or with red blood cells coated with antibody and complement (EAC′-rosettes) was determined in patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH). There was no significant difference in the relative proportion of these cells in 13 untreated patients, 6 treated patients, 5 patients in remission, and 6 patients with acute hepatitis, when compared with normal controls. From 7 to 32% (mean 18.0%) of lymphocytes from patients with untreated CAH formed E-rosettes that did not disintegrate following incubation at 37°C for half an hour (stable E-rosettes). The percentage of lymphocytes forming stable E-rosettes in all other groups of patients and in healthy subjects varied between 0 and 3. Following cortisone therapy, the proportion of lymphocytes forming stable E-rosettes dropped promptly. Stable E-rosettes have not been described previously in relation to clinical disorders.