[Nitroblue tetrazolium test in Hodgkin's disease (author's transl)]

Nitroblue tetrazolium dye (NBT) test was performed in 60 patients suffering from Hodgkin's disease. The control group consisted of 60 healthy adults. 23 patients with inactive lymphogranulomatosis had a mean NBT-balue of 30 +/- 9% formazan cells. There was no difference compared with controls (32 +/- 10% formazan cells). 37 patients suffered from active Hodgkin's disease. In this group 31 patients showed an elevated value, 6 had normal levels. On average the level was significantly raised with 59 +/- 20% formazan cells (p less than 0,01). A correlation between the extent of the disease and the height of the NBT figure could not be demonstrated. The same applies to the different histological types. In comparison between the NBT value and the simultaneously examined ALP it was found that ALP is a more sensitive parameter but that an increased ALP is not indicative of an active stage. It is therefore advisable to determined both parameters to get more security whether there is active or inactive Hodgkin's disease.