Abnormal expansions of polyclonal large to small size granular lymphocytes: reactive or neoplastic process?

Blood. 1984 Jun;63(6):1271-7.

Abstract

Morphological, immunologic, and functional properties of peripheral blood cells from two patients with chronic proliferations of granular lymphocytes are described. Cells from both patients showed a heterogeneous pattern from both a morphological and immunologic standpoint, indicating a polyclonal, rather than a monoclonal, expansion of these cells. In fact, both large and small-to-medium-sized granular lymphocytes were observed, and different percentages of positivity were found in the analysis with a large panel of monoclonal antibodies. Serologic and histologic features support the hypothesis that this lymphocytosis could be secondary to bacterial or viral infections rather than a primary event, suggesting that these patients may have chronic reactive immunoregulatory disorders.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acid Phosphatase / blood
  • Adult
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • Bone Marrow Cells
  • Carrier State
  • Cytoplasmic Granules
  • Glucuronidase / blood
  • Hepatitis B Antigens / immunology
  • Hepatitis, Chronic / etiology
  • Hepatomegaly / etiology
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / immunology
  • Humans
  • Hypergammaglobulinemia / etiology
  • Lymphocytes / cytology
  • Lymphocytes / enzymology
  • Lymphocytosis / etiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monocytes / ultrastructure
  • Naphthol AS D Esterase / blood
  • Salmonella Infections / etiology

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • Hepatitis B Antigens
  • Naphthol AS D Esterase
  • Acid Phosphatase
  • Glucuronidase