Immunodeficiency in Hodgkin disease.

The immunodeficiency in Hodgkin disease is characterized by a defect in cell-mediated immunity. Recent studies have reported that delayed hypersensitivity responses (DHR) are normal in untreated patients with early disease. The present study evaluated the DHR of 218 untreated patients using 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene and a battery of intradermal antigens. The results confirm an immune deficiency in early stages which is not an all-or-none phenomenon and may be unmasked by using lower concentrations of antigens.