Abstract: Objective To assess the characteristic and its clinical value of T lymphocyte subsets in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods T lymphocyte subsets were measured by ELISA assay in BALF and peripheral blood of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.48 cases were active tuberculosis.19 cases were inactive tuberculosis. Results CD₄ T lymphocytes and CD₄/CD₈ ratios were found in greatly depleted numbers in BALF and peripheral blood in active tuberculosis,there was statistically significant difference when compared with inactive tuberculosis( P<0.01).CD₈ T lymphocytes in active tuberculosis patients were high in BALF than in peripheral blood(P<0.05). CD₄/CD₈ ratios in BALF and peripheral blood were lower in cavitary tuberculosis than non-cavitary tuberculosis. After 2 months’ effective antituberculosis treatments, CD₄ T lymphocytes and CD₄/CD₈ ratios in BALF and peripheral blood showed a significant increase, while CD₈ T lymphocytes in BALF decreased. Conclusion Analysis of T lymphocyte subsets in BALF and peripheral blood was helpful for determining the clinical pattern of disease, recovery situation during treatment and prognosis in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Key words: Tuberculosis,pulmonary, T lymphocyte subsets