[Long term effects of splenectomy on the immune-status of Hodgkin's disease patients depending on the modality of treatment (author's transl)].

In a total group of 103 Hodgkin's disease patients the immune-status of splenectomized and non-splenectomized individuals is compared in subgroups characterized by the modality of treatment (RT, CT, RCT). The mitogenic stimulation of peripheral lymphocytes showed a decreased response of splenectomized patients in each therapy group. The percentage, but not the absolute number/mm3, of peripheral T-cells was reduced after splenectomy. Splenectomized patients, who received combined radiation and chemotherapy showed significantly lower IgM-levels than non-splenectomized patients after the same treatment. EBV-VCA-titers and skin-test-reactivity were not influenced by splenectomy.