T-lymphocytes and their function in Hodgkin's disease
Michlmayr, G.
Fortschritte der Medizin 96(38): 1928-1932
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0015-8178 PMID: 308921 Document Number: 136606
In untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease the percentage of T-lymphocytes was significantly reduced in comparison to healthy controls independent of the stage of the disease. The absolute number of T-lymphocytes was also reduced in most patients. The response of lymphocytes after PHA-stimulation was diminished parallel with the skin reactivity: Normal results were obtained in early stages and with favorable histological types whilst low values were found in stages III and IV and in unfavourable histological types. A correlation between the percentage of T-lymphocytes and the PHA-stimulation was found in early stages, but not in stages III and IV. There was also a correlation between the absolute number of T-lymphocytes and skin reactivity. The percentage of DNA-synthesizing lymphocytes was significantly higher than in normal blood. The highest values were found in stages III and IV and in unfavourable histological types. After radiation therapy the T-lymphopenia, the diminished PHA-stimulation as well as anergy was more pronounced than after chemotherapy.