[Count and ultrastructure of large granule-containing lymphocytes in the blood of lymphogranulomatosis patients].

The blood-level and ultrastructure of large granular lymphocytes (LGL)--a subpopulation with natural killer activity--were studied in 120 cases of Hodgkin's disease and 50 healthy controls. A marked increase in the relative and total number of LGLs was observed in patients with complication--free stage I--II tumor. Electron microscopy identified changes in the size and ultrastructure of osmiophilic granules as well as a relatively higher level of parallel tubular arrays in LGL cytoplasm. Unfavorable clinical course involved a decrease in blood-LGL level. The results pointed to significant changes occurring in natural immunity in Hodgkin's disease.