Lymphocyte transformation in patients with amyloidosis.

Lymphocyte transformation (measured by C-thymidine uptake) was studied in sixteen subjects, seven of whom had systemic amyloidosis. Impaired lymphocyte transformation was observed with antigen, but not with purified protein derivative, phytohaemagglutinin and in leucocyte cultures of patients with amyloidosis. A selective impairment of cell mediated immunity may, therefore, exist. Lymphocyte transformation was stimulated by a crude extract of amyloid fibrils in four out of seven patients with amyloidosis, but also in three of eight control subjects. This reaction cannot yet be used as diagnostic test for amyloidosis.