T- and B-cells and IgE in mycosis fungoides.

The role of T- and B-lymphocytes and serum IgE was studied in 22 patients with mycosis fungoides. The distribution of B-cells in peripheral blood was normal, while the mean percentage of T-cells was significantly lower than in 14 healthy controls. Four patients with mycosis fungoides in stages I to IV had a highly elevated serum IgE, while serum IgE in remaining patients was slightly elevated, normal, or subnormal. The mean serum IgE level was not significantly elevated. Our results tend to show that a reduced ability to react with cellular immunity may be an important factor in mycosis fungoides. This may have therapeutic aspects.