Impaired in Vitro Lymphocyte Transformation in Hodgkin's Disease

HODGKIN'S disease is characterized by certain abnormalities of immunologic function. These include impaired ability to respond to delayed hypersensitivity antigens,1 impaired ability to reject homografts2 and an increased susceptibility to certain infections, including herpes zoster, tuberculosis and disseminated fungous infection.3 During the last decade the central role of the small lymphocyte in some immunologic responses has been recognized,4 and a number of nonmalignant immunologic disorders in which the structure or function of the lymphoid system is abnormal have been described.5 In this study the in vitro responses of lymphocytes from patients with Hodgkin's disease to stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and . . .