Changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte nucleoli in a follow-up of renal allograft recipients. Correlation with the response to PHA.

Changes in the morphology of nucleoli in peripheral blood lymphocytes and the reactivity to PHA were used in the immunological follow-up of renal allograft recipients. The increased numbers of "active" lymphocytes containing compact nucleoli or nucleoli with nucleolonemas, characteristic for cells actively synthesizing RNA, preceded 21 out of 28 rejection episodes. The results of the nucleolar test mathematically correlated with the results of the test of lymphocyte transformation to PHA. The described testing of lymphocyte activation according to the morphology of the nucleoli may serve as a rapid and economical method for the prediction of impending allograft rejection crises in the clinic.