Immunological Evidence In Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

ABSTRACT:BACKGROUND:Immunological factors in the pathogenesis of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) weresuggested previously on the basis of the demonstration of mononuclear cell infiltrates andautoantibodies against the myocardium.OBJECTIVE:Was to determine the changes in the percentage of T cell subsets in peripheral blood in order toinvestigate the role of cellular immunoregulation in patients with idiopathic dilatedcardiomyopathy.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 cellsubsets ( p=0.4). CD8+ T cell percentage was significantly decreased in patients with IDC than incontrols (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 implydecreased self-tolerance and an immunoregulatory defect in the pathogenesis of IDC.