Changes in human lymphocyte subpopulation in Hodgkin's lymphoma.

An investigation of 33 patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma--both treated and untreated--has revealed lymphocytopenia and a significant decline in the absolute number of T lymphocytes labeled with rosettes with sheep erythrocytes to be due in these patients not to the tumorous disease itself, but probably to the intensive nature of the therapy. A marked decline in the absolute number of B lymphocyte subpopulation, determined by the formation of rosettes with mouse erythrocytes, occurs during a fresh relapse of patients with an active Hodgkin's lymphoma. This decline is probably independent of the preceding treatment, of the clinical stage of the disease and of its histological type.