Proportions of mouse erythrocyte rosette-forming lymphocytes, immunoglobulin-bearing cells and E rosettes in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases.

The proportions of mouse erythrocyte rosette-forming (MERF) lymphocytes, immunoglobulin (Ig)-bearing cells and E rosettes were examined in the peripheral blood of patients with lymphoproliferative diseases. The proportion of MERF lymphocytes was considerably increased in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. The correlation between the proportions of MERF and Ig-bearing cells, characteristic of healthy individuals, is not observed in the lymphoproliferative diseases. It is suggested that in a part of the patients with these diseases, the study of the proportion of MERF cells provides more accurate information on the proportion of lymphocytes of bursal origin than does counting of the Ig-bearing cells.