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The in vivo effect of a thymic factor (thymostimulin) on immunologic parameters of patients with untreated Hodgkin's disease
Author(s) -
Martelli M. F.,
Velardi A.,
Rambotti P.,
Cernetti C.,
Bertotto A.,
Spinozzi F.,
Bracaglia A. M.,
Falini B.,
Davis S.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19820801)50:3<490::aid-cncr2820500318>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - medicine , in vivo , population , gastroenterology , disease , peripheral blood , immunology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , environmental health
The in vivo effect of a calf thymus extract (thymostimulin, TS) on the E‐rosetting capacity, PHA blastogenic response, serum migration inhibitory activity (LIF) and skin reactivity to recall antigens was evaluated in 19 untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease. In patients the mean percentage of peripheral blood lymphocytes forming E‐rosettes increased from 47 to 55.7% ( P ≤ 0.001; normal: 58.9). The mean PHA stimulation index rose with all three concentrations tested but did not reach normal values. Serum LIF was positive in only one patient prior to treatment with a total patient mean LIF of 1.03. Nine patients developed a positive LIF following treatment with a mean LIF for all patients of 0.75 ( P ≤ 0.005). Skin tests were positive in ten patients (52.6%) prior to therapy and 18 patients following therapy (94.7%; P ≤ 0.05). Thymostimulin, in vivo , appears to return immunologic competency to a population of untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease.