Decreased monocyte function in patients with Hodgkin's disease.

Monocyte function in nine untreated and nine treated patients with Hodgkin's disease in different stages was studied simultaneously with normal controls. Monocyte chemotactic responses were decreased in 6 of the 14 patients with advanced disease regardless of previous therapy. None of our patients with stage II disease had abnormal results. Decreased monocyte chemotactic responses correlated with the presence of cutaneous anergy. In addition, decreased chemotaxis was associated with diminished monocyte bactericidal activity. This suggests that decreased bactericidal activity may be related to abnormal migration and possible diminished ingestion. The data support the hypothesis that depressed monocyte function may contribute to the increased susceptibility to infections of patients with Hodgkin's disease and it may be an additional factor favoring tumor dissemination in the advanced stages of the disease.