[Stage IIIB and IVB Hodgkin's disease. Response to chemotherapy, relapses, survival rates (author's transl)].

Thirty-two of 71 (45%) stage IIIB and IVB patients up to the age of 60 achieved a complete remission (CR) by initial COPP-chemotherapy. Twelve additional cases were free of symptoms after COPP, but showed persistent disease at postprimary laparotomy or within 3 months after cessation of chemotherapy. Forty-four per cent (n = 17) of this initial COPP failures could also be brought to CR by ABVD-chemotherapy or/and radiotherapy within 7 to 51 months. Cases with lymphocytic depletion reached CR in only 31% (N = 5/16) in comparison to 80% (n = 44/55) of the three other histological subtypes. Without additional consolidation therapy 60% relapsed, but only 11% after adjuvant total-nodal irradiation. An increase of side effects after therapy has not been observed so far. Patients with once attained CR have a survival probability of 93% after nearly 8 years from diagnosis. For the whole stage IIIB/IVB group the values were 85% up to the age of 30 (n = 28) and 60% for the age group of 31-60 (N = 43). They were clearly higher than in the 1966-1971 patients who showed values o 39% nd 41%, respectively. Beyond the stage of 60 (n = 15) the survival probability of 10% after 3 years in comparison to former 15% revealed no improvement.