Immune function in patients with multiple myeloma

Summary Immunologic function was evaluated in 27 patients with multiple myeloma (MM). When tested for their ability to develop delayed hypersensitivity to a panel of skin test antigens, 2 out of 15 such patients were found to be anergic. The property of human peripheral blood T lymphocytes to form rosettes with sheep total E and active or early or early rosette-forming cells (RFC)] and human erythrocytes (H-RFC) was also studied. In addition, rosette formation with mouse erythrocytes (M-RFC) was investigated as a B cell marker. Decreased proportions of total E-RFC were found in one third of the patients with MM when compared to normal volunteers. By contrast, both mean percentages and ranges of active E-RFC, H-RFC, and M-RFC in the MM patients overlapped those revealed in healthy controls. The rosette-forming ability of peripheral blood lymphocytes was tested before and after treatment with levamisole, thymosin, and transfer factor in healthy controls, as well as in some groups of patients with MM, active systemiclupus erythematosus and Hodgkin’s disease. A positive effect of all three immunomodulating agents could only be demonstrated on cells from T cell-deficient patients. It is suggested that the immunodeficiency syndrome associated with MM and related malignancies may reflect quantitative and possibly selective defects of lymphocyte subpopulations. Supported in part byConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma, Italy.