We have evaluated long-term serial changes in the immunological state from soon after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) In 44, mainly leukemia patients with respect to changes in lymphocyte surface markers. Absolute numbers of cluster designation (CD)2+, CD20+ and human lymphocyte antigen-DR+ (HLA-DR+) cells recovered to within their normal ranges three months, one year and two years, respectively, after BMT. The reversal of the CD4+: CD8+ ratio persisted for five years or more but returned to normal after six years. CD57+CD16- cells were markedly increased from three mo up to a maximum of five years after transplantation; they were increased between three and six months after transplantation irrespective of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), but changes after one year or more differed among patients without GVHD, with acute GVHD, with acute and chronic GVHD or with chronic GVHD. Absolute numbers of CD57+CD16- cells tended gradually to return to normal after one year or more in the group without GVHD but only after six years in patients in the other three GVHD groups.