Complement receptor B lymphocytes in nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease.

Infiltrated tissues from nine cases of nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease (NSHD) were examined for immunologic cell surface markers. In all nine cases a large population of complement receptor B-lymphocytes were present within the nodular infiltrates. B-lymphocytes were identified in frozen sections by adherence of sheep red blood cells (E) coated with IgM antibody (A) and complement (C) IgMEAC). IgMEAC attached to both small lymphocytes and to Reed-Sternberg cells and their variants. Red cells coated with IgG (IgGEA) attached to histiocytes associated with the internodular fibrous bands and only sparsely with the nodular infiltrates. The population of complement receptor lymphocytes appears to be an integral component of NSHD.