Die extrakorporale Blutbestrahlung

Summary The high sensibility of lymphocytes renders possible their selective destruction by extracorporal irradiation of the blood without additional impairment of the homeostasis. This method provides a useful experimental tool to the study of the dynamics of lymphocyte migration, proliferation, and function. Good therapeutic results could be achieved by applying extracorporeal irradiation of the blood in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This form of therapy would permit to treat early stages of the disease without concomitant side effects. Furthermore, there is evidence that the reduction of the pool of leukemic cells in acute leukemia by means of extracorporal irradiation of the blood can stimulate resting leukemic cells and thus provide better efficiency of cytotoxic therapy. Extracorporeal irradiation of the blood can be applied during dialysis in patients who are to undergo kidney transplantation. The favorable results thus far obtained led the authors to suppose that this application of the method can achieve particular significance.