Abstract
Fifteen patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in long term remission were studied. Nine patients were in remission for 6 months to 4 years following 5 years of chemotherapy and 6 patients were 3 years into remission and receiving maintenance chemotherapy. T cells were enumerated by the E-sheep-red-cell rosette method, subpopulations of T cells (Tγ and Tμ) by ox-red cell IgM and IgG rosette formation, B cells by membrane immunoglobulin fluorescence. Mitogen stimulated cultures used phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen. Immunoglobulin synthesis was estimated by a radioimmunoassay of the supernatant of pokeweed mitogen stimulated cultures. The total leukocyte count was significantly decreased (p<0.01), the absolute lymphocyte count was comparable (p>0.1). T cells were significantly decreased (p<0.005). Subpopulations of T cells, Tγ and Tμ cells showed significantly lowered numbers, more so in the patients who were receiving chemotherapy, (p<0.05). Mitogen stimulated cultures in 3 patients showed normal to increased H3 thymidine incorporation in fetal calf serum, allogenic serum and autologous serum. Preliminary studies detected low immunoglobulin levels in pokeweed mitogen stimulated supernates of 2 patients tested.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
