[Immunglobulins G, A, M, and E in lymphogranulomatosis (author's transl)]

IgG, IgA and IgM were determined in 68, and IgE in 30 patients with Hodgkin's disease. Their relation to the dissemination stage, histological type, clinical stage and peripheral lymphocytes as well as the correlation of IgE to the peripheral eosinophils was investigated. In the untreated collective all Ig concentrations were above normal, but in the treated patients only IgG and IgE. With increasing dissemination, there was a decline of IgG, IgA and IgM in both groups which, however, was only significant for IgM. IgM was lowered in the lymphocytopenic type, raised in nodular sclerosis. There is a confirmed correlation between the absolute peripheral lymphocytes and IgM and between the peripheral eosinophils and IgE. IgE and IgA are slightly and IgM significantly lowered in the treated compared with the untreated patients. The findings suggest a disturbance of the humoral immunity in stage IV, in the lymphocytopenic type and in the treated patients.