ABSTRACT
Total T cells and both T helper [Th] and T suppressor [Ts] subsets were studied twice [pre and postoperative] in 40 patients undergoing splenectomy in the Main Alexandria University Hospital. Twenty patients had an uneventful postoperative course [group I], while the other 20 suffered from postsplenectomy fever. In only 8 of these a demonstrable cause for the fever, was detected, and those were excluded from the postoperative sample. In the remaining 12, fever was found to be cryptogenic [group II]. Results of patients with schistosomiasis preoperatively, and both postoperative groups I and II showed no significant differences. However, there was a trend for an increase in total T cells with a decrease in Th and constancy in Ts cells after splenectomy. These trends were more evident in patients with postsplenectomy cryptogenic fever [group II]. On the other h and, the differences between control and preoperative values in schistosomal patients were significant only as regards the Ts [less in control group] and the Th/Ts ratio [higher in the control group]