Comparison of peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotypes in patients with failed metal-on-metal and metal-on-polyethylene hip implants

摘要

Overall, this study shows differences in the proportions of lymphocyte subtypes, particularly NK, memory B- and Tc cells, in peripheral blood of patients with failed MM implants compared to patients with failed MPE implants. In addition, although metal hypersensitivity reactions have been thought to be T-cell-mediated delayed (type ) reactions (3), the larger spread of memory B-cell percentages, as well as the absence of larger proportions of memory T-cells and type 1 Th cells (i.e., Th cells expressing IFN-) in the MM group do not reflect a typical type- hypersensitivity reaction. Nevertheless, group sizes need to be increased and lymphocyte phenotypes in the peripheral blood remain to be compared to those in the periprosthetic tissues to confirm the type(s) of hypersensitivity reactions when present in MM patients.