Immunity in Hodgkin's disease: status after 5 years' remission

Immunological indices have been reassessed in 27 patients in remission from Hodgkin's disease for 5 years after treatment and the findings correlated with initial treatment and splenectomy status. Neutrophil counts were lower and lymphocyte and monocyte counts higher at 5 years' remission than at presentation; the increases in lymphocyte count were mainly a feature of the splenectomized patients. Neutrophil function (nitro-blue tetrazolium) was unchanged in remission but cellular immunity (leucocyte migration inhibition and lymphocyte transformation) was depressed at 5 years and progressive falls in serum immunoglobulins were noted. Low values of IgG and IgM were particularly found in patients who had splenectomy and chemotherapy; there was however no excess of infections in this small group.