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Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the relation between the level of depression and anxiety and peripheral blood T lymphocyte subpopulation in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.
Material and Method: Thirty-two consecutive patients newly diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis were enrolled. Depression and anxiety were evaluated with Hamilton Scale and T lymphocytes with flow cytometry method.
Results: All the cases were male and the mean age was 30.66 (±11.58) years. The diagnosis was based on bacteriological analysis. Mean cell counts were (in mm3) leukocyte 9175 (±2252), lymphocyte 1764.56 (±790), CD3% 64.30 (±9.88) CD19% 7.79 (±3.45), CD4% 36.82 (±10.93), CD8% 26.64 (±10.00), CD16/56% 16.46 (±8.64), active T 6.19% (±3.14) and CD45% 93.75 (±4.11). Mean depression score was 1.91 (±2.66) and anxiety score was 1.47(±1.95). There was an inversely proportional, moderately significant statistical relationship between radiological dissemination of the disease and CD16/56 and active T cells. A moderately significant statistical decrease in CD16/56 level was observed with the higher depression score.
Conclusion: The relationship between depression and CD16/56 might indicate that the nervous system has probably a part in the signal pathway between APCs and NK T lymphocytes. Considering the importance of the NK cells in the battle with the bacilli, we can presume that the inverse relation of the depression scores with CD16/56 lymphocytes levels increases the predisposition to the disease. (Tur Toraks Der 2010; 11: 112-6)