Increased monocyte-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) in Hodgkin's disease

Monocyte-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) was tested in 23 patients with histologically proven Hodgkin's disease and 29 healthy normal controls. Seven patients presented with active and 16 with inactive disease. The lytic capacity of the individual monocytes was significantly (P < 0.02) higher in patients with Hodgkin's disease than in normals. However, no significant difference was found between the numbers of monocytes in both groups of individuals, as determined by non-specific esterase staining. No correlation was found between the lytic capacity of monocytes and the activity of the disease.