QUANTITATIVE ANTIBODY STUDIES IN MAN. III. ANTIBODY RESPONSE IN LEUKEMIA AND OTHER MALIGNANT LYMPHOMATA 1

Abstract

Antibody formation was studied in patients with leukemia, lympho-sarcoma and Hodgkin''s disease using pneumococcus capsular polysaccharides as antigens and measuring the antibody response with the quantitative precipitin technique developed by Heidel-berger and his associates. 9 of 11 patients with untreated acute leukemia had unusually large antibody responses. These responses were impaired in 7 patients with acute leukemia receiving cortisone. 8 of 9 patients with chronic lymphatic leukemia exhibited little or no antibody response. 7 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, 3 patients with Hodgkin''s disease, and 4 patients with lymphosarcoma had antibody responses essentially within the normal range.