[Granulocyte adherence in advanced Hodgkin's disease and its dependence on antiproliferative drugs used]

In 36 patients with stage III and IV of Hodgkin's disease granulocyte adherence was investigated. The determinations were carried out in minicolumns filled with nylon fibres. In 13 patients the determinations were repeated 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 hours after administration of vinblastine and cyclophosphamide. In all patients granulocyte adherence was reduced, by 54.1 +/- 3.5% on the average. The values of adherence in the control group were of the order of 83.7 +/- +/- 4.7%. Administration of antiproliferative drugs reduced further the adherence. The lowest value of it was observed 6 hours after vinblastine and cyclophosphamide administration. After that time the adherence increased gradually reaching the initial level 24 hours after administration of antiproliferative agents. These results suggest that reduced adherence of granulocytes may be an additional cause, besides abnormal immunological reactions, of the impairment of the resistance mechanisms of the organism in advanced stages of Hodgkin's disease.