Lymphocyte changes in acute malaria

Lymphocyte sub-populations were studied in children with acute malaria. Depletion of T cells was found associated with an increased proportion of null cells. K cell activity for chicken red cells was also increased and it is likely that some of the increased number of null cells were K cells. An increase in K cell activity in acute malaria could be part of a protective immune response. © 1977 Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.