Ortho vitros

Leukocytes and CRP were analyzed from blood drawn from an antecubital vein on admission and between 6 and 8 am on days 1, 2, 3, and 7 after stroke onset. Neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes were determined using flow cytometry (CELL-DYN Sapphire, Abbott Diagnostics, Abbott Park, IL). Lymphocyte subsets were enumerated with appropriate monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry on admission and between 6 and 8 am on days 1 and 2 after stroke onset. The following antibodies were used: T cells (CD3⁺), T-helper cells (CD4⁺), T cytotoxic cells (CD8⁺), B cells (CD19⁺), natural killer (NK) cells (CD3⁻CD56⁺CD16⁺), and NK T cells (NKT) (CD3⁺CD56⁺CD16⁺). Two populations could be distinguished in the NK cells: CD16/56 dim and CD16/56 bright cells. We excluded 1 patient because of de novo diagnosis of chronic lymphatic leukemia. Reference values for the lymphocyte subsets were established on 48 healthy adults (24 men and 24 women) between 20 and 65 years of age. Concentrations of CRP (normal <5 mg/L) were measured using high-sensitivity turbidimetric immunoassay (Ortho VITROS, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Rochester, NY).