Occurrence of atypical lymphocytes in peripheral blood with it´s relation to the leukocyte and differential lymphocyte counts, and to the positivity of hepatitis B antigen (HB Ag) tested by modified agarose double diffusion assay were studied in 61 cases of proven acute viral hepatitis, 15 active chronic hepatitis 20 liver cirrhosis.
The results obtained were summarized as follows:
1) The range of leukocyte count was between 2,600 to 36, 400/mm3 in the patients with acute viral hepatitis among which leukocytosis was observed chiefly in the patients with massive or submassive hepatic necrosis. The leukocyte counts were ranged between 2, 600 to 9, 000/mm3 and 22,700 to 9,800/mm3 in the patients with active chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver respectively.
2) Relative lymphocytosis was observed in 18.4% of acute viral hepatitis and in 20% of active chronic hepatitis studied, while no cases with relative lymphocytosis was observed in the patients with liver cirrhosis. One the other hand, relative lymphopenia was observed in all patients with massive or submassive hepatic necrosis.
3) Atypical lymphocytes in peripheral blood, observed in 77.1% and in 53.3% acute viral hepatitis active chronic hepatitis studied, respectively. All patients with massive or submassive hepatic necrosis showed atypical lymphocytes in their peripheral blood.
4) There were no relations with the occurrence atypical lymphocytes to the leukocyte and different lymphocyte counts or to be occurrence HB.
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