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Generalized Monocyte Deficiency in Leukaemic Reticuloendotheliosis
Author(s) -
Janckila Anthony J.,
Wallace John H.,
Yam Lung T.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0036-553X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1982.tb00577.x
Subject(s) - monocyte , histiocyte , medicine , chlorambucil , peripheral blood , bone marrow , immunology , gastroenterology , pathology , endocrinology , chemotherapy , cyclophosphamide
Examination of the blood of 40 patients with leukaemic reticuloendotheliosis (LRE) revealed a drastic reduction in monocyte numbers (mean 74/μl) when compared to a normal group of 33 (mean 442/μl). Repeated blood studies in 8 LRE patients were made over periods of 2 months to 5 years and monocytopenia was observed to be a persistent phenomenon. Similarly, tissues from 29 patients showed an overall decrease in numbers of monocytes/histiocytes when compared with those of 73 control subjects. Skin window examinations in all 11 patients so studied showed marked reduction or absence of monocyte response to inflammation. 2 exceptional cases to this trend are noted. In one, circulating monocyte levels remained normal over a 14‐month period while examinations of blood and marrow in this case showed few hairy cells. In another case, severe and persistent monocyte deficiency was noted during a 2‐year period of unsuccessful treatment. When he eventually responded to low dose chlorambucil and his Hb rose from 40–140 g/1 and WBC became normal, the number of circulating monocytes also became normal.