[Immunological data in the clinical evaluation of Hodgkin's diseases]

87 adult patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease were examined to analyse the pattern of immune alterations with regard to the clinical stage and course of disease, and the response to treatment. Patients with advanced stages of the disease or with radio- or chemotherapeutically induced remission showed a decrease in total lymphocyte counts and a diminished count of T-lymphocytes. The lymphocyte transformation and the reactions in skin tests with DNCB and microbial antigens were the more disturbed the more the disease was advanced. Below a critical number of circulating T-lymphocytes measuring 500 cells per mm3 of peripheral blood an inhibition of T-cell function has been found. The authors conclude that a positive correlation between an undisturbed immune status and a good prognosis in Hodgkin's disease is highly probable.