[Function of the bone marrow stroma in patients with lymphogranulomatosis undergoing radiation therapy]

Monolayer cultivation of the radiated bone marrow was performed in 39 lymphogranulomatosis patients with a long-term remission attained after radiotherapy according to the radical program. In 41 patients, the non-radiated bone marrow was also subjected to monolayer cultivation. Counts were made of the total number of myelokaryocytes and myelogram. Analysis of the punctates from the radiated areas has shown that the growth of fibroblast colonies occurred where complete or partial recovery of the cellularity was detected and the total focal dose per bone marrow was less than 35 Gy. With the use of large doses the growth of the colonies was detected in none of the cases. In the radiated areas, the patients commonly manifested bone marrow aplasia. Investigation of the punctates from intact areas pointed to the growth of the colonies in the majority of cases whereas the myelogram count to the increased percentage of the reticular cells, lymphoid and erythroid elements.