Phagocytic Macrophages in the Bone Marrow Biopsies of Children with Hodgkin's Disease

Phagocytic macrophages in bone marrow aspirates have been described as normal and are frequently observed in autoimmune disorders. They are rarely seen in bone marrow biopsies. We observed phagocytosis of leukocytes and nuclear debris by macrophages in the bone marrow biopsies in 20 of 26 children with Hodgkin's disease before therapy.

In contrast, phagocytic activity was present in only 1 of 16 children with solid tumors and 4 of 17 children receiving chemotherapy for neoplasia other than Hodgkin 's disease. In all groups the marrow was not directly involved by tumor. The presence of macrophage activity did not correlate with clinical stage or histological type of Hodgkin's disease or with the peripheral blood count. Its increased frequency in patients with Hodgkin's disease may reflect abnormal macrophage function in those patients.