Impaired T-cell and NK-cell function in patients with preleukemia.

The responses to the T-cell mitogens Phythemagglutinin (PHA) and Concanavalin A (Con A) and the natural killer (NK) cell activity are tested in patients with preleukemia (PL). The results are compared with those of healthy controls. The PL patients show low responses to T-cell mitogens and low NK cell activities. It is discussed that the data are not of prognostic value in PL as to development of overt leukemia. However, the results suggest that PL impaired cell functions are not limited to erythropoiesis, granulopoiesis, and thrombopoiesis but are also found in the immune system.