Beneficial effect of hepatitis in leukemic reticuloendotheliosis.

A patient with leukemic reticuloendotheliosis had splenomegaly, neutropenia, and a severe underproduction anemia. During a three-year period, the hematocrit was never in the normal range, and periodic transfusions were required. However, after an episode of hepatitis that was positive for B surface antigen, the spleen became smaller, the number of neutrophils increased, the transfusion requirement disappeared, and the hematocrit rose to normal. Several mechanisms for this observation are proposed.