The formation of granulocyte-monocyte colonies by bone marrow cells cultured in a semiliquid environment is a widely applied technique of granulocytopoiesis examination. Applying this method the number of circulating in blood stem cells of the granulocyte-monocyte line (CFC-GM) has been assessed in 35 patients with Hodgkin's disease. In 12 patients the number of circulating in blood CFC-GM prior to the irradiation has been greater as compared with the norm accepted for our investigation. It has been the greatest in patients with nodular sclerosis type of Hodgkin's disease. In 25 patients smaller than accepted as normal number of circulating in the blood CFC-GM has been present particularly in patients with mixed cellularity type of Hodgkin's disease. Following the application of chemotherapy according to MOPP scheme during the first two weeks no circulating CFC-GM have been present in blood. The lowest number of stem cells in blood has been observed prior to IV and VI course of chemotherapy. The interruption of treatment for 8 weeks resulted in major increase of the number of circulating CFC-GM in the blood.
Adult Aged