Clinical Feature of Each Subgroups of Lymphoma and Several Parameters Reflecting Stages and Prognosis

Abstract

In this paper, clinical characteristics of each subgroups of lymphoma, and correlation between several parameters and clinical stage or prognosis were investigated in 67 cases (Hodgkin's disease; 17 cases, T cell lymphoma; 16 cases, non T lymphoma; 34 cases).
The results were as follows:
1) The leukemic manifestation was observed in 7.7% of the patients with Hodgkin's disease, in 43.8% of the patients with T-cell lymphoma, and in 12.1% of the patients with non T cell lymphoma.
2) The bone-marrow infiltration was noted in 62.5% of the patients with Hodgkin's disease and hepatic infiltration in 30.8%. The bone-marrew infiltration was noted in 50% of the patients with T cell lymphoma and hepatic infiltration in 30.8% and cutaneous infiltration in 25%. The bone-marrow infiltration was noted in 60.9% of the patients with non T cell lymphoma, hepatic infiltration in 36.7% and infiltration at the digestive tract in 42%. Immunoabnormality was observed in the patients with non T cell lymphoma (especially B cell lymphoma): Hyper-γ-globulinemia was noted in 22% of the patients, antinuclear antibody positive reaction in 23% and cryoglobulin-positive reaction in 31%.
3) Platelet counts were reduced in the terminal stage in many patients, indicating that the presence of bone-marrow infiltration in most cases.
4) Of 20 patients with high titer of serum alkaline phosphatase, 14 (70%) had the liver infiltration.
5) Serum ferritin, serum β₂-microglobulin and LDH were good parameters reflecting all clinical stages. However, as compared with ferritin, LDH showed higher incidence of normalization in the stage of non-remission. Reversely, β₂-microglobulin showed higher abnormal values in the stage of remission. Also, in renal disturbances, β₂-microglobulin was improper as a parameter.
6) PPD-skin reaction and PHA blast transformaton rate were both good parameters reflecting all clinical courses and stages. PHA rate before treatment was a good prarmeter for predicting the prognosis. The remission rate was high in patients with normal levels and was low in patients with low, or death occurred in the early stage in many patients with low levels. PPD skin reaction was negative in CS III stage and was positive in the remmision stage. At the time of relapse, and at the terminal stage, the reaction was again negative.
7) The level of the natural killer (NK) activities in malignant lymphomas tended to be lower than the normal control in all stages and increase in the remission period.