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.