A quantitative comparison of T-cell subsets in Hodgkin's disease and reactive hyperplasia. Frozen section immunohistochemistry.

Cryostat sections of lymph nodes from patients with Hodgkin's disease were stained with monoclonal antibodies reactive with T-cells including T-cell subsets. Lymph nodes showing reactive hyperplasia were used as controls. Using an eyepiece grid, the stained cells were counted and subset ratios determined. The ratio of helper T-cells to cytotoxic/suppressor T-cells, i.e., (formula; see text) in Hodgkin's disease was found to be significantly different from ratios obtained from reactive nodes. This difference may be explained by a relative increase in cytotoxic/suppressor T-cells and/or a decrease in helper T-cells. This finding may relate to the previously reported increase in suppressor cell activity in patients with Hodgkin's disease and may also correlate with diminished delayed-type hypersensitivity in such patients.