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

Summary . 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 < 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.