[Immunologic status in Hodgkin patients: correlation with Epstein-Barr virus titers]

[Hodgkin's disease: effect of spenectomy on the immune status (author's transl)]

In 22 untreated Hodgkin's patients the following parameters were studied before and after splenectomy: the total WBC, lymphocytes, B- and T-cells and mitogenic stimulation of peripheral lymphocytes using autologous and control serum. The results were correlated to patient groups with favourable and unfavourable prognosis according to pathological stage, histology, spleen involvement and constitutional symptoms. 1. All Patients. Significant increase of the absolute number of peripheral lymphocytes and B-cells. Significant increase of the spontanous DNA synthesis in the presence of AB-control serum, but no change after mitogenic stimulation of peripheral lymphocytes. No change in the number of peripheral T-cells. 2. Patients with Favourable Prognosis. Significant increase of the absolute number of peripheral lymphocytes and B-cells. Significant increase of the spontanous DNA synthesis in the presence of AB-control-serum. Significant decrease of the T-cell function (PHA- and Con-A-stimulation in the presence of autologous serum). Significant decrease of the PHA-, Con-A- and PWM stimulation rate using control serum in the lymphocytic predominance and nodular sclerosis group. No change in the number of peripheral T-cells. 3. Patients with Unfavourable Prognosis. No change in the absolute number of B-cells, of the spontanous DNA-synthesis using autologous serum and of the PHA- and Con-A-stimulation. Significant increase of the EBV-induced blastogenesis in the mixed cellularity and lymphocytic depletion group.

Immunologic profile of patients with cured Hodgkin's disease

Blood lymphocytes from 9 patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) were studied. The results were compared with those of 6 seminoma testis patients and 9 healthy unrelated controls. All patients were in complete and unmaintained remission more than 10 years after termination of radiotherapy. The mean T-lymphocyte count of HD patients was lower than that of controls and seminoma testis patients. Lymphocyte DNA synthesis induced by pokeweed mitogen and phytohaemagglutinin was normal in both patient groups. Concanavalin A-induced DNA synthesis was low in 4 patients with HD although the mean stimulation of the group did not differ from controls or seminoma testis patients. Lymphocyte activation by PPD was slightly decreased in the 2 patient groups. No increase in spontaneous lymphocyte DNA synthesis was observed. The responding and stimulatory capacity in mixed lymphocyte culture was decreased in 3 and 2 HD patients respectively. 4 out of the 9 patients with HD but none with seminoma testis displayed severe impairment in T-lymphocyte functions. As 1 of the 4 had been treated solely by surgery, late effects of irradiation can only partly explain the results. The results may favour a hypothesis postulating a constitutional defect contributing to the immunoincompetence in HD.