Immunohistologic studies of cytoplasmic immunoglobulins in rheumatic diseases including two patients with monoclonal patterns and subsequent lymphoma.

Tissue specimens from five patients with rheumatic disease who developed lymphadenopathy were studied by an immunoperoxidase method; available biopsy material was examined for cytoplasmic immunoglobulin determinants. Three patients had follicular hyperplasia of lymph nodes with polyclonal patterns. Two patients with Sjogren's syndrome had monoclonal patterns; both of these patients subsequently developed lymphoma with similar monoclonal patterns. Implications of the monoclonal patterns with regard to the biology of these lymphoproliferative disorders are discussed.