title: T-cell subsets in malignant lymphomas and monoclonal gammopathies.
abstract: 159 patients with malignant lymphomas or monoclonal gammopathies were investigated for lymphocytes and their subsets using conventional surface markers and a panel of monoclonal antibodies. In untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin lymphomas and multiple myeloma, (MM) a reduction of T-cells and especially of the "helper/inducer" subset (OKT4+) was found to be a common phenomenon. The major abnormalities occurred in advanced stages of disease. Patients previously treated by chemo- and/or radiotherapy had a further decrease of T-cells, whereas the loss of OKT4+ cells was more pronounced than that of the "suppressor/cytotoxic" lymphocytes (OKT8+). The alterations of lymphocyte subsets persisted even in long-term remitters. Comparing the lymphocyte subsets in MM and benign monoclonal gammopathies (BMG), patients with BMG showed a significant reduction in OKT8+ cells, whereas the OKT4+ population was within normal range, resulting in a significant elevation of the OKT4/OKT8-ratio compared to the controls and untreated multiple myeloma.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Mitrou
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kelker
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000276:immunology; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface