Lymphocyte density distribution profile and spontaneous transformation related to the stage of Hodgkin's disease.

Density distribution profiles of peripheral lymphocytes were made in 41 untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease and in 14 normal controls. The fraction of lymphocytes with a low specific gravity in patients was significantly increased in comparison to normal controls (P=0.0007). These low density lymphocytes in Hodgkin's disease patients showed an elevated spontaneous 3H-thymidine incorporation compared to normal controls (P less than 0.0001). In 78% of the patients the spontaneous DNA synthesis of the low density lymphocytes was above the normal range. A positive correlation (P=0.002) was found between the spontaneous 3H-thymidine uptake and the stage of the disease.