Active and total T cells in blood and cerebrospinal fluid during the course of aseptic meningitis

Patients with aseptic meningitis (AM) were examined with the active T cell rosette test, which has been claimed to reflect cell-mediated immunocompetence more accurately than determination of total T cells. Higher percentages of active T cells were demonstrated in CSF compared to blood regardless if specimens were obtained on days 1–4, days 5–10, or later than 20 days after onset of symptoms. Active T cell percentages in CSF decreased when values for specimens obtained on days 5–10 were compared with those taken later than 20 days after onset, while no significant variations of active T cell percentages in blood were observed. The percentages of total T cells were higher in CSF than blood in specimens from days 5–10, and later than 20 days after onset, but no significant fluctuations of total T cells occurred in either CSF or blood over the course of AM.