title: Impaired T-lymphocyte function in B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia as measured by the local xenogeneic graft-versus-host reaction.
abstract: The immunological dysfunction observed in B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) is often related to T-lymphocyte incompetence. The local xenogeneic graft-vs.-host reaction (XGVHR), an assay to evaluate T-lymphocyte function, was performed in 112 untreated B-CLL patients. The XGVHR results significantly correlated with clinical parameters: 37.1% of the patients in the stable phase (Rai stage 0-1-2) and only 13.3% of the patients in the progressive phase (Rai stage 3-4) had positive XGVHR results. Patients with negative results had a higher number and percentage of lymphocytes (25,247 vs. 17,071/microliter and 75.9% vs. 65.6%, respectively), much lower T/B lymphocyte ratio (0.37 vs. 0.93), higher WBC count (30,977 vs. 23,458/microliter), lower platelet count (158,068 vs. 181,684/microliter) and lower levels of IgA and IgM (115.6 vs. 200.5 mg/dl and 80.4 vs. 124.3 mg/dl, respectively) compared to those with positive results. Among those with negative XGVHR results, a higher mortality rate was found in those who had infections compared with those who did not (73.7% vs. 9.1%). In conclusion, the XGVHR assay significantly correlates with important characteristics of B-CLL and may be useful in the clinical evaluation of B-CLL patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shohat
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kadosh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaklai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006087:Graft vs Host Reaction / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous