Immunologic status of children with Hodgkin's disease (HD).

Concentration of serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgM, IgA, E-, EAC-rosette forming lymphocyte counts and phagocytic activity of granulocytes to Staphylococcus aureus were studied in venous blood of 12 children with HD and 15 normal controls during the combined long term radio- and polichemotherapy. The decrease in E- and EAC-rosette forming lymphocyte counts at diagnosis and during the combined radio- and chemotherapy single cycle and long-lasting treatment were found. The quantity of serum immunoglobulins IgA and IgM was above normal limits at diagnosis and decreased during 2 years of treatment. The impairment of phagocytic activity before treatment and during long term therapy was found. Analysis of the survival rate curves suggests the prognostic value of the initial T- and B-lymphocyte numbers in peripheral blood.