Spontaneous lymphocyte transformation in relation to the number of circulating lymphocytes in Hodgkin's disease.

Spontaneous lymphocyte transformation in relation to the number of circulating lymphocytes was studied in 54 patients with active Hodgkin's disease. Increased spontaneous DNA synthesis by peripheral lymphocytes was found in 83% of the cases studied. However, no difference was found in comparing a group of lymphopenic patients (less than 1,500 lymphocytes/microliter) to a group with normal lymphocyte count (greater than 1,500 lymphocytes/microliter). Implications of these findings are discussed