Circulating CD4+, CD8+, and double-negative T cells in ischemic stroke and stroke-associated infection: a prospective case-control study

There were no differences in the studied parameters between stroke patients and controls, as well as between subjects with and without SAI. A higher percentage of CD4+ T cells and a higher CD4+/CD8+ ratio correlated with better clinical status in the acute and subacute phases, while CD8+ T cells showed the opposite correlation. The percentage of CD8+ T cells positively correlated with CRP levels during the acute and subacute phases of stroke, as well as in the control group. A negative correlation was noted between the percentage of CD4+ T cells on D1 and the serum CRP level on D10 after stroke. Similarly, the CD4+/CD8+ ratio on D1 negatively correlated with CRP on D1, D3, and D10. In patients with a history of hypertension (HT), there was a higher percentage of CD8+ T cells and a lower percentage of CD4+ T cells in the acute phase of stroke than those without HT.