Use of total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) as immunosuppressive therapy for organ allotransplantation and autoimmune diseases

Radiation induced alterations in the number and immune functions of peripheral blood lymphocytes have recently been described in patients treated with fractionated localized or extended field radiotherapy for carcinoma of the breast, lung, bladder uterine cervix, prostate, testicular tumors, head and neck tumors, Hodgkin's disease, and in children receiving prophylactic craniospinal radiation for acute lymphoblast leukemia. Most studies have demonstrated an acture peripheral blood lymphocytopenia and varying degrees of suppression of immune functions such as the in vitro blastogenic responses to stimulation with lectins or with allogeneic lymphocytes in the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), and in the in vivo delayed hypersensitivity responses to dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and intradermally injected bacterial and fungal antigens. Most studies have also shown various degrees of recovery of the above immune functions within the first few years after completion of treatment