Impaired Lymphocyte Function in Untreated Hodgkin's Disease

Abstract

To provide a rapid and quantitative in vitro method for assessing cellular immunoresponsiveness in Hodgkin's disease, we measured protein synthesis by lymphocytes stimulated by phytohemagglutinin. The function of peripheral blood lymphocytes from 44 untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease was investigated and compared with that of lymphocytes from 37 normal persons. A phytohemagglutinin dose-dependent defect in lymphocyte stimulation was detectable in Hodgkin's disease, even in patients with limited disease (Stages I and II). The defect was more pronounced in patients with more extensive disease (Stages III and IV). The lymphocytes of patients in continuous remission for two to eight years after intensive megavoltage radiotherapy also exhibited severely impaired responses. (N Engl J Med 290:181–186, 1974)