Immunological findings in immunoblastic lymphadenopathy. A detailed case study.

Several immunological parameters were investigated in a patient with immunoblastic lymphadenopathy (IBL). An increased concentration of polyclonal immunoglobulins, the presence of autoantibodies in the serum and an increased level of B lymphocytes with an abnormal DNA synthesis response to LPS in peripheral blood were the most salient features. The findings suggest that in IBL there is a numerical as well as a functional alteration of peripheral blood lymphocytes. We propose that the alteration was due to either an escape of lymphocytes from central lymphatic organs or a defect in maturation of peripheral blood lymphocytes.