OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of CD4T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with follicular lymphoma and its clinical significance.

METHODSBlood samples were collected for detection of whole blood cells, including absolute monocyte count (AMC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), hemoglobin (Hb), platelet count (Plt). Age, sex, pathological grade, number of involved lymph nodes, bone marrow involvement (BMI), Ann Arbor stage, B symptoms, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and serum β-2 microglobulin (β2-MG) were recorded, the prognostic stratification was performed by using FLIPI and FLIPI-2. The T lymphocyte subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry, including the absolute number of CD4T lymphocytes (ACD4C) and the absolute number of CD8T lymphocytes (ACD8C).

RESULTSPatients were with higher Ann Arbor stage, Hb<120 g/L, LDH greater than the upper limit of normal, the number of lymph nodes were involved> 4, the bone marrow was involvement, β2-MG levels were high FLIPI score and FLIPI-2 score, AMC level was higher (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in ACD4C levels among different groups. Patients with AMC≥0.89×10/L showed a shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and a shorter overall survival time (OS) (P=0.010,0.002) as compared with patients with AMC<0.89×10/L. The patients with ACD4C>0.16×10/L had longer progression-free survival and overall survival time, as compared with patients with ACD4C ≤0.16×10/L (P=0.016,0.012). Low ACD4C and high AMC related with shorter PFS and OS (P=0.013, 0.020). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that age (P=0.026), bone marrow involvement (P=0.017), elevated LDH (P=0.001), β2-MG (P=0.014), FLIPI and FLIP2 score (P= 0.004 and 0.000) related with a shorter PFS. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that Hb (P=0.015), elevated LDH (P=0.003), β2-MG (P=0.045), bone marrow involvement (P=0.016) and FLIPI-2 score(P=0.003) related with short OS. ACD4C ≤0.16×10/L was a factor influencing prognosis of FL patients (PFS and OS) (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLow ACD4C levels relatees with poor prognosis of patients with FL, and the ACD4C levels may be an important predictor for FL disease and prognosis.