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Manifestations of Immunologic Unresponsiveness in Hodgkin's Disease¹

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

The immunologic defect of early Hodgkin's disease is characterized by a depression of delayed hypersensitivity and can be assessed by negative reactions to a battery of delayed allergens or by inability to acquire contact sensitivity. While the homograft reaction is depressed in these patients, antibody formation is largely intact and the lymphocyte count is normal or but slightly depressed. It is suggested that the anergy of early Hodgkin's disease is a peripheral defect; a manifestation of abnormal lymphocyte function. This suggestion is supported by preliminary work with Hodgkin's lymphocytes in vitro and following lymphocyte transfer. Later in the course of the condition profound lymphopenia develops and most probably contributes to the more severe and complex immunologic deficiencies of advanced Hodgkin's disease.

¹ The author's work is supported by Research Grant CA-07179 of the National Cancer Institute, USPHS. This is Publication 1231 of the Cancer Commission of Harvard University.