A panel of monoclonal antibodies that identify various antigens present on T and B cells was used to characterize circulating blood lymphocyte subsets in multiple myeloma [(MM)--13 patients] and benign monoclonal gammopathy [(BMG)--5 patients]. In MM and BMG an increase in B cell proportions (BA 1 positive cells) was observed, whereas T cells (Lyt 3 positive cells) were reduced compared to normal controls. However, with respect to the T cell subset distribution, a marked diversity between MM and BMG was noted. This may help to differentiate BMG from MM. In MM a relative decrease in inducer/helper T cells (OKT 4 positive cells) and increase in suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (OKT 8 positive cells) as well as in NK/K T cells (Leu 7 positive cells) was observed. On the other hand, in BMG the relative T cell subset distribution was comparable to those seen in normal subjects.

The number of B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes and their helper/inducer, cytotoxic/suppressor and NK/K subpopulations was measured in peripheral blood and spleen cell suspensions from patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) in the active stage of the disease and in remission status, as well as in Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) in active stage of the disease. B lymphocytes were determined by direct immunofluorescence and T lymphocytes with the E rosette technique. Helper/inducer, cytotoxic/suppressor, and NK/K T lymphocytes were determined by indirect immunofluorescence with the monoclonal antibodies OKT4, OKT8 and Leu 7 (HNK1). In the same way, Lyt3 was used for determination of the total T lymphocytes. Whereas in peripheral blood of the NHL group an increase of B lymphocytes and a slight reduction of T lymphocytes could be observed, with normal distribution of the subpopulations, in patients with active HD as well as in those in remission, a marked absolute and relative decrease of T helper/inducer cells was found with normal cytotoxic/suppressor and NK/K proportion. In contrast to this, a significant increase of helper/inducer T lymphocytes with decreased cytotoxic/suppressor T proportion was found in spleen cell suspensions of patients with HD.