Characteristics of the lymphopenia induced by radiotherapy.

This report investigates functions and number of different lymphocyte types in patients with testicular and ovarian tumours before, during and following therapeutic irradiation. Irradiation causes loss of T cells, B cells and K cells at similar rates. The long term depletion of T cells, which is well recorded, is due to delayed and incomplete repopulation of a substantial proportion of this cell type. B cells and K cells, however, return to levels very close to normal by 6 and 3 months respectively after irradiation. Long-term depletion of T cells occurs even when the thymus is not irradiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]