Characterization of immunoglobulins in Hodgkin cells.

Fifteen of 42 formalin-fixed lymph-node biopsies with Hodgkin lesions of different histological types and stages gave positive staining for immuno-globulins by the peroxidase/antiperoxidase method. The immunoglobulins in all the positively stained Hodgkin cells were of IgG type, but staining for IgA, D and E was negative. One of the 15 biopsies was positive for IgM. Thirteen of the 15 positive biopsies were positive for both kappa and lambda. Sequential double staining using two different substrates for peroxidase showed that most of the Hodgkin cells simultaneously contained light chains of both kappa and lambda type. It is concluded that Hodgkin cells do not contain a "monoclonal" immunoglobulin product.