Patterns of Immunological Deficiency in Lymphomas and Leukemias

Abstract

Lymphomas and leukemias may be separated into 3 disease families: myeloproliferative diseases, lymphoproliferative diseases, and Hodgkin''s disease. These 3 disease families affect the immune system in different ways, although some overlapping occurs. Gamma globulin abnormalities are associated most commonly with lymphoproliferative diseases. Disturbances of delayed hypersensitivity are most frequently seen in Hodgkin''s disease. Neither of these abnormalities are characteristic of myeloproliferative diseases; granulocyte deficiencies are. Infectious complications were most frequent in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute leukemia; pneumonia occurred most often in the former, septicemia in the latter. A relationship between the immunoglobulin disturbances of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the infectious complications seems likely. The high incidence of autoimmune disease and second primary neoplasms may also be related to this abnormality. Immunoglobulin disturbances were not common in Hodgkin''s disease, although anergy was. This finding may explain the particular association of tuberculosis and cryptococcosis with this disease, as well as the high incidence of homograft acceptance.