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The Significance of Lysozyme Estimations in Acute Myeloid and Chronic Monocytic Leukaemia
Author(s) -
Catovsky D.,
Galton D. A. G.,
Griffin C.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1971.tb02718.x
Subject(s) - lysozyme , urine , medicine , myeloid , monocyte , myeloid leukaemia , immunology , gastroenterology , endocrinology , chemistry , biochemistry
S ummary . Serum and urine concentrations of lysozyme (muramidase) were estimated by a turbidimetric method in 17 adults suffering from acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and six from chronic monocytic leukaemia (CMoL). AML case were classified on cytological and cytochemical criteria as myeloblastic (AMbL), myelomonocytic (AMML) or monoblastic‐monocytic (AMoL) leukaemia. Serum lysozyme was within normal limits in AMbL, was increased from moderate to high levels in AMML and greatly increaed in all but one AMoL; CMoL had also raised concentrations. The concentrations of lysozyme in 24 hr collections of urine corresponded in general with the serum levels. When serum levels were very high (above 400 μg/ml) the ratio urine/serum was raised 15–40 times. Repeated lysozyme estimations made for periods of 1–12 mth during the course of treatment in seven patients with AMML or AMoL demonstrated three patterns of changes: (a) in four cases the serum concentrations fell during remission and rose again during relapse; when the remission was not complete they remained above the upper limit of the normal range; (b) in one case the changes were as (a), but when the relapse occurred the serum and urine concentrations remained normal; (c) in two cases of AMML with only moderately increased lysozyme levels, the changes in the serum concentration followed only the changes in the monocyte counts, thus reflecting only partially the activity of the disease. Lysozyme estimations are useful in classifying AML and in assessing the degree of remission achieved as a result of treatment. Additional observations regarding the presence of abnormalities in the neutrophils, lymphadenopathy, and gum hypertrophy were also found to be useful in the classification of AML, the former being more common in AMbL and the latter in AMoL.