Lymphocyte populations with abnormal kappa:lambda ratios in reactive lymphoid hyperplasia

Abstract

The lymph node biopsies of 12 patients with lymphadenopathy due to reactive hyperplasia contained lymphocyte populations with increased percentages of B‐cells and abnormal numbers of cells with single class surface immunoglobulins. Ten patients were followed for periods of 3–30 months: one developed a non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma and one Hodgkin's disease. One other has persisting lymph node enlargement. Two patients had nonlymphoid malignancies. The other six remain well without lymphadenopathy. Twenty‐five of 40 patients with reactive lymph node hyperplasia and normal kappa/lambda ratios followed for 9–36 months had a similar incidence of lymphoid malignancy and persistent lymph node enlargement. The follow‐up data so far available do not support a hypothesis that reactive lymphoid hyperplasia with increased numbers of cells with single class surface immunoglobulin is associated with higher morbidity than reactive hyperplasia containing the usual polytypic lymphocyte populations.