Immunity in Hodgkin's disease: status after 5 years' remission.
Immunological indices have been reassessed in 27 patients in remission from Hodgkin's disease for 5 years after treatment and the findings correlated with initial treatment and splenectomy status. Neutrophil counts were lower and lymphocyte and monocyte counts higher at 5 years' remission than at presentation; the increases in lymphocyte count were mainly a feature of the splenectomized patients. Neutrophil function (nitro-blue tetrazolium) was unchanged in remission but cellular immunity (leucocyte migration inhibition and lymphocyte transformation) was depressed at 5 years and progressive falls in serum immunoglobulins were noted. Low values of IgG and IgM were particularly found in patients who had splenectomy and chemotherapy; there was however no excess of infections in this small group.
D000328:Adult; D000917:Antibody Formation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013156:Splenectomy; D013997:Time Factors
D007136:Immunoglobulins