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Metabolic Changes in Red Blood Cells in Malignant Lymphomas
Author(s) -
Bellis R. De,
Boulard M. R.,
Kasdorf H.,
Rodriguez I.,
Ferrando R.,
Landro J. Di,
Ferrari M.,
Sanguinett C. M.,
Tanzer J.
Publication year - 1979
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.1365-2141.1979.tb03695.x
Subject(s) - hematology , medicine , cancer research , pathology , biology
Serum copper levels (SCL) which are concomitantly related to red blood cell free copper are significantly increased in some malignant lymphomas in the phase of activity. This results in a profound inhibition of red cell key glycolytic enzymes, hexokinase (Hx) being the most sensitive. Fifteen patients (eight with Hodgkin's disease and seven with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma) were studied for serum and red cell copper concentrations and Hx activity. The mean red cell life span was determined using 51 Cr labelled red cells. The resulting data shows that in active disease an increase in SCL was associated with a decrease in Hx activity and a shortened red cell survival. In these cases there was no evidence of autoimmune phenomena or of direct bone marrow involvement by the disease. It is suggested that the increase in copper levels results in a shortened red cell life span through a copper‐induced inhibition of red cell Hx.