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What Does Low CD 8 And CD3 Abs Lymphocytes Mean?
Question: What does low CD 8 and CD3 abs lymphocytes mean? I was being teated for mold exposure. They were both a couple points below normal as was lymphocytes.
Brief Answer:
CD8/CD3 ratios most important for diagnosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for the query,
CD8 and CD3 lymphocytes are specific cells of the immune system. They vary differently with various types of infectious. These cells are particularly important when one is investigating specific fungal or mold exposures.
What is most important is not the absolute values of these cells, but the ratio of the CD8 to the CD3 cells, otherwise called the CD8/CD3 ratio.
A low CD8/CD3 ratio is very supportive of a mold infection, generally as is the case with mycosis fungoides. When this ratio is less than 25%, it is very suggestive of mold infection or exposure.
Your clinician is very conscious of this and this could explain the reason for prescribing the test. The results however cannot be interpreted independently from specific clinical realities that you present with.
Thanks and kind regards. Please, do feel free asking further questions in case of need.
Dr Bain
CD8/CD3 ratios most important for diagnosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for the query,
CD8 and CD3 lymphocytes are specific cells of the immune system. They vary differently with various types of infectious. These cells are particularly important when one is investigating specific fungal or mold exposures.
What is most important is not the absolute values of these cells, but the ratio of the CD8 to the CD3 cells, otherwise called the CD8/CD3 ratio.
A low CD8/CD3 ratio is very supportive of a mold infection, generally as is the case with mycosis fungoides. When this ratio is less than 25%, it is very suggestive of mold infection or exposure.
Your clinician is very conscious of this and this could explain the reason for prescribing the test. The results however cannot be interpreted independently from specific clinical realities that you present with.
Thanks and kind regards. Please, do feel free asking further questions in case of need.
Dr Bain
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Do you mean the ratio of the cb abs, or the lymphocyte population?
Brief Answer:
CD8/CD3 cell count ratio.
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for the update.
I am in fact talking of CD8 cells and CD3 cells, both lymphocytes. In some situations, anti bodies called anti CD8 and anti CD3 antibodies could be measured. In this case, its mainly the ratio of the respective cell populations that is informative to suggest fungal or mold infections.
With a ratio of .25 or less, a mold infection should be strongly suspected. Kind regards
Dr Bain
CD8/CD3 cell count ratio.
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for the update.
I am in fact talking of CD8 cells and CD3 cells, both lymphocytes. In some situations, anti bodies called anti CD8 and anti CD3 antibodies could be measured. In this case, its mainly the ratio of the respective cell populations that is informative to suggest fungal or mold infections.
With a ratio of .25 or less, a mold infection should be strongly suspected. Kind regards
Dr Bain
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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