title: Immune and hormonal changes in early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients.
abstract: Fifty-six previously untreated stage-I (according to Rai) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients were examined for their clinical data, immunological characteristics, and hormonal values. Dysfunction of T and B lymphocytes was demonstrated by changed lymphocyte blastogenic response to stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (ConA), pisum sativatum agglutinin (PSA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), recombinant interleukin 2 (IL 2), and dextran sulfate (DxS); also by decreased immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA, IgE) and increased beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M) values. Simultaneously, dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, immune system integration, imbalance of sex hormones, and changes in thyroid hormones were observed in the same group of patients. Disturbed immunohormonal interactions in early-stage CLL may be responsible for the pathogenetic mechanisms in this lymphoproliferative malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Everaus
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lehtmaa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Luik
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kŏdar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D007073:Immunoglobulin E