Circulating lymphocyte populations in Hodgkin's disease after mantle and
paraaortic irradiation
MR Posner, E Reinherz, H Lane, P Mauch, S Hellman and SF Schlossman
The effect of mantle and paraaortic radiation on peripheral blood
lymphocytes was studied in 11 previously untreated patients with early
stage Hodgkin's disease using a series of monoclonal antibodies defining
immunoregulatory lymphoid cells. Immediately following the completion of
radiotherapy, there was a significant reduction in the number of
lymphocytes and the percent of circulating T cells. This acute decrease in
T cells was due to a marked diminution in the number of inducer T cells,
while the fraction of suppressor T cells remained constant. These changes
persisted for up to 12 mo and were accompanied by a later increase in the
fraction of circulating B lymphocytes and cells bearing surface Ia. It thus
appears that mantle and paraaortic radiotherapy causes a relatively
selective reduction in the inducer T- cell population. The implications of
a change in the ratio of inducer to suppressor T cells is discussed.
Volume 61,
Issue 4,
pp. 705-708,
04/01/1983
Copyright © 1983 by The American Society of Hematology
