OKT8-Reactive Cell Mycosis Fungoides

To the Editor.— Involving the Central Nervous System Mycosis fungoides (MF) lymphoma affects the skin primarily, but ultimately can involve almost every organ and tissue of the body.1Immunohistochemical studies with monoclonal antibodies specific for T-cell subsets disclose helper T-cell predominance in most cases,2,3but, in some cases, the malignant clone of the cells belongs to a suppressor-cytotoxic subclass.2-4We herein describe a case of MF that had a fulminant clinical course followed by widespread central nervous system involvement. Unique features in this case are the single proliferation of monoclonal OKT8-reactive T cells and peculiar palmar lesions resembling pustules. Report of a Case.— A 48-year-old man was hospitalized on Oct 25, 1982, because of numerous infiltrative erythematous plaques, pigmented patches, and ulcerated or crusted tumors all over his body (Fig 1). Pruritic, scaly erythema first appeared on the extremities and buttocks in 1977. On admission, lymph node enlargement was palpable in the axillae and groin. Laboratory studies revealed elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase