Polymorphonuclear neutrophil function in malignant lymphomas and effects of splenectomy.

Granulocyte (PMN) directional locomotion (migration) in vitro and in vivo, resting nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT)-reduction and adherence to nylon wool of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) were assayed in 7 patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) and in 11 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) prior to therapy. In most patients with HD, NBT-reduction was increased and in all directional locomotion was markedly decreased both in vitro and in vivo. In addition to being depressed, accumulation of PMN into skin chambers in patients with HD correlated with the peripheral blood count (r = 0.95). In vitro directional migration of PMN in NHL was depressed in half the patients, but increased in the in vivo assay. After splenectomy, PMN-adherence tended to increase and NBT-reduction to decrease. These findings are compatible with a constant cellular defect of PMN in HD, whereas in NHL abnormal PMN function is more likely mediated by extracellular factors. Abnormal PMN function may correlate with clinical susceptibility to infection in malignant lymphomas.