T Lymphocytes and Reed–Sternberg Cells in Spleen of Hodgkin's Disease

Abstract

To the Editor: Longmire et al. (N Engl J Med 289:763, 1973) reported an increase of in vitro splenic IgG synthesis in Hodgkin's disease, particularly in organs that were themselves either uninvolved or lightly involved by the disease. By contrast, a lesser increase in this IgG synthesis was noted in heavily involved spleens. On the basis of their studies, however, the authors were unable to determine whether this increased IgG synthesis reflected an increased percentage of B lymphocytes or an increased rate of IgG synthesis per cell. We have recently studied the spleens of 20 patients with Hodgkin's disease from . . .