Immune responsiveness in Hodgkin's disease.

Several features of immune reactivity in Hodgkin's disease are discussed. Immunoglobulin containing cells have been identified in varying proportions according to the histological stage of the disease. Most of the immunoglobulin was demonstrated to be of the IgG class. With regard to cell mediated immunity in Hodgkin's disease, observations on 17 untreated patients suggest that there is no impairment of lymphocyte transformation induced by allogeneic cell stimulation . However, commencement of radiotherapy abolishes the reaction and its effects are prolonged. A preliminary report is presented on the antigen associated with Hodgkin's disease which was first identified by Order, Porter and Hellman in 1971. This antigen has now been found in splenic tissue from a variety of neoplasms of the lymphoreticular system.