Neutrophil function in lymphoreticular malignancy

Summary.-Neutrophil function has been assessed in 62 patients with lympho-reticular malignancy by means of the NBT test and an in vitro micro-organism killing technique. Normal or enhanced phagocytosis was found, the greatest enhancement being found in patients with disseminated disease (in the absence of infections). Candicidal capacity alone was depressed in 7 patients but 4 of these showed depressed cell-mediated immunity to Candida antigen. Splenectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy did not alter phagocytic function. LYMPHO-RETICULAR malignancy is known to be associated with deficiency of cell-mediated and humoral immunity. However, little attention has been paid to the function of the neutrophil. We have studied phagocytic and killing func-tion of peripheral neutrophils in patients with Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lym