With an absolute lymphocyte count of 19.3 x 10⁹/l, this highly pleomorphic lymphocyte population is typical of the pattern seen in Infectious Mononucleosis and, unlike the "reactive lymphocytosis" cases, is primarily restricted to CD8 positive cells.

This pattern is reflected in the CD8+ population shown below generated from a three colour CD45/CD3/CD8 protocol gated on the CD45+/CD3+ population.

Conventional gating strategies based FS or SS vs CD14/CD45 "purity" gating may underestimate the CD8 population.
Large CD8+ cells are also commonly seen in AIDS (see AIDS page photo) although, in our experience, they tend to be a small coherent cluster, as opposed to the pleomorphic pattern displayed here.

---

Back to miscellaneous blood diseases