title: Persistent generalized lymphadenopathy in drug addicts: immunological studies.
abstract: The persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) in drug addicts displays the same immunological abnormalities previously found in homosexual and haemophiliac men with PGL: impaired in vivo and in vitro T cell functions, inverted T4/T8 ratio in blood and B cell abnormalities. The peripheral blood B-lymphocytes, in fact, show a reduced in vitro immunoglobulin synthesis after pokeweed mitogen and Staphylococcus aureus activation, with an increased spontaneous IgG secretion. In the lymph node biopsies, the immuno-histological studies reveal an infiltration of OKT8 positive cells in the germinal centers, a depletion of OKT4 positive lymphocytes slighter than in the blood and an explosive follicular hyperplasia with a striking destruction of the dendritic reticulum cell framework. This latter finding, together with the high levels of serum IgG and the presence of preactivated B cells in the blood, seems to be consistent with the presence of an in vivo polyclonal B cell activation. A high incidence of anti-HTLV III antibodies was also found in the PGL drug addicts. The significance of these findings is discussed in this report.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal