Changes of the blood lymphocyte subpopulations and their functions following 131I treatment for nodular goitre and 32P treatment for polycythemia vera

The blood lymphocyte population was examined in 34 patients treated with 131I for toxic or atoxic nodular goitre. One to three doses of 300-550 MBq of 131I were administered at 1-week intervals. Results, with the exception of mitogen reactivity, were largely similar to those occurring following external radiation therapy for cancer. It is suggested that blood lymphocytes passing through the continuously irradiated gland are damaged mainly by β-rays. The effect of 32P treatment on the blood lymphocyte population was examined in 16 patients with polycythemia vera. Following a single oral dose of 32P(150-305 MBq), which normalized the production of erythrocytes and/or platelets, blood lymphocyte counts were reduced by approximately 40% 12 weeks after treatment. Examination of subsets demonstrated the proportion of B-cells was decreased by the highest relative extent, but lymphocytes expressing the T cell markers were increased. 32P treatment markedly increased PHA reactivity but further reduced PWM-induced Ig secreation, in agreement with the finding that serum concentrations of Ig were reduced after treatment. (U.K.)