Selective immunological evaluation of mycosis fungoides

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Abstract
Tests of specific aspects of immune function were conducted on 15 patients with clinically and histologically evident mycosis fungoides of various stages. These tests included peripheral blood lymphocyte counts, T[thymus derived] and B [bone marrow derived] cell counts, mitogen stimulation tests to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (con A) and pokeweed mitogen, as well as determinations of Ig[immunoglobulin]E levels and antinuclear factor (ANF). Mycosis fungoides patients, as a group, had normal peripheral blood lymphocyte T cell and B cell counts, but had decreased stimulation to PHA and con A. When evaluated by stage of disease, the peripheral blood lymphocytes, T and B cell counts did not differ significantly from normal, at least until stage V. ConA stimulation was decreased by stage II disease; PHA was decreased by stage III, indicating at least a selective immunological deficit in the plaque stage or in later disease. Values of IgE and ANF were rarely abnormal.