Lack of correlation between skin reactivity and T lymphocytes and monocytes in Hodgkin's disease

28 untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease have been studied in respect to skin reactivity to purified protein derivative and dinitrochlorobenzene and blood monocytes and T lymphocytes. Cutaneous anergy as defined by unresponsiveness to both purified protein derivative and dinitrochlorobenzene was found in 43% of patients and in 7% of the control group. Although there was a significant reduction in E-rosetting lymphocytes in Hodgkin's cases, we found no differences in the mean numbers of E-rosetting lymphocytes and monocytes between normergic and anergic patients. We, therefore, conclude that skin reactivity is not directly correlated with the total numbers of E-rosetting lymphocytes or monocytes in Hodgkin's disease.