[Role of splenectomy in impairing lymphocyte elimination in patients with lymphogranulomatosis].

The study group included 113 patients in a continuing 1 to 10 year-long complete clinical-hematological remission from Hodgkin's disease. 43 of them had prior splenectomy. The latter revealed a higher level of lymphocytes (chiefly 0-cells) and a diminished response of mononuclear blood cells to PHA as compared to the other patients and healthy controls. Also, they had more lymphocytes which became capable of E-rosette formation following a short-term incubation at 37 degrees C (lymphocyte reactivation by means of surface modification). The negative correlation between the reactivated T-cells level and mononuclear cell response to PHA suggested a functional blocking of T-cells involving damage to membranes. The absence of reactivated T-lymphocytes in nonsplenectomized patients was regarded as circumstantial evidence for the role played by the spleen in withdrawing faulty lymphocytes from peripheral blood.