Serum immunoglobulins G, A, M, D and E concentrations in lymphomas

Abstract

Serum immunoglobulin levels were measured in 105 patients with untreated Hodgkin's disease (HD) and 80 with non-HD lymphomas. Significant increases in IgG and IgE occurred in the whole HD group. When compared with the histological types of HD, increases of IgG, IgA AND IgE were seen in nodular sclerosis and of IgE alone in mixed-cellularity and lymphocyte-predominant types. In relation to the stage of disease spread, increases of IgG, IgA AND IgE occurred in Stages II and III, while in Stage IV, although IgE was raised, IgM in males and IgD fell significantly. Paired serum samples taken 10-14 months apart showed falls of IgM and IgD after radiotherapy, and of all Ig classes except IgD after chemotherapy. Decreased levels of IgM in females, IgG and IgA were found in the non-HD lymphomas. When analysed in terms of lymphnode histology, decreased IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE occurred in well differentiated lymphocytic lymphomas, decreased IgA alone in poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphomas and decreased IgD in nodular types of lymphoma.