METHODS FOR COMPUTING LYMPHOCYTE KINETICS IN MAN BY ANALYSIS OF CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS SUSTAINED DURING EXTRACORPOREAL IRRADIATION OF THE BLOOD

Abstract

ABSTRACT Data on lymphocyte kinetics may be derived in patients undergoing treatment by extracorporeal irradiation of the blood by studying chromosome aberrations induced in their lymphocytes; the aberrations are observed when the lymphocytes are stimulated by phytohaemagglutinin to divide in culture. Two methods of analysis are described, one depends on the total number of dicentrics scored, the other employs the dilution principle, regarding each lymphocyte bearing one or more aberrations as specifically labelled. Two parameters may be calculated: the mean residence time of lymphocytes in the blood and the size of the extravascular pool of lymphocytes in the body. In a patient with Hodgkin's disease, the mean residence time was found to be 4.7–7.5 min and the extravascular pool 800–1070 g.