Flow cytometric method to detect lymphocyte transformation in drug-allergic hepatic injury

Dig Dis Sci. 1998 Mar;43(3):513-20. doi: 10.1023/a:1018850805536.

Abstract

Flow cytometric methods for the analysis of incorporated bromodeoxyuridine are extremely rapid and simple. We investigated whether these methods were useful for detecting drug-allergic hepatic injury in 18 patients with drug-allergic hepatic injury, 18 healthy controls, and 9 nonallergic patients receiving drugs. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with drug solutions. Incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine was detected after labeling with FITC, and S-phase cells were counted by flow cytometry. Percentages of S-phase cells in drug-stimulated culture minus those in spontaneous cultures were less than 1% in both healthy controls and nonallergic patients receiving drugs. Taking 1% as the upper limit, 13 patients (72%) were judged as positive. After the in vitro addition of interleukin-2, two patients among five who had been judged as negative were judged as positive. Lymphocyte transformation test by flow cytometry may be useful in the diagnosis of drug-allergic hepatic injury.

MeSH terms

  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / diagnosis*
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / immunology
  • Drug Hypersensitivity / diagnosis*
  • Drug Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 / pharmacology
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Lymphocytes / cytology
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • S Phase
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Interleukin-2