Correlation of substance(s) immunologically cross-reactive with insulin, glucose and growth hormone in Hodgkin lymphoma patients.

The levels of substance(s) detectable by insulin specific radioimmunoassay (RIA), glucose and growth hormone (GH) were determined in the blood of patients suffering from Hodgkin lymphoma. In the relapse phase of the disease, the levels of substances immunologically cross-reactive with insulin (SICRI) were elevated and glucose concentrations were below normal. In these patients the basal and hypoglycemia-induced levels of GH in blood were strongly elevated. Contrary to this, both SICRI and glucose levels were normal in the blood of patients in remission, and GH levels were significantly reduced compared to those measured in patients in relapse.