Lysozyme in the serum, urine and peripheral blood leukocytes in patients with immunocytoma.

Lysozyme activity was determined in the serum, urine and leukocytes of 53 patients with immunocytoma and 24 patients with lymphoproliferative syndromes without associated monoclonal gammapathy. In patients with multiple myeloma the frequency of low serum lysozyme activity and high leukocyte lysozyme activity was higher. In the cases with renal failure, lysozyme activity was raised in serum and urine, and the 24-hour urinary lysozyme excretion was increased.

Lymphocyte response in in vitro cultures to some mitogens, and serum immunoglobulin levels in aged subjects.

Capacity of lympocytes for blastic transformation in in vitro cultures under the influence of PHA and PWM was studied in 40 subjects aged 20--60 years and in 43 aged 60--100 years. In the higher age group, in about 25% of cases, low percentages of blasts in cultures stimulated with PHA and PWM were observed. In 101 subjects aged 65--100 years, the mean level of IgA in serum was significantly higher compared with the 20--40-year age group.

[Neoplastic variant of acute erythroblastotis--proerythroblastoma].

In two case of aorthochromatic anaemia refractory to treatment with granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia without significant enlargement of abdominal viscera a hypothesis of uncontrolled proliferation involving proerythroblasts is put forward on the basis of bone marrow findings. This proliferation seems to be confined to a single focus-bone marrow, without evidence of peripheral dissemination. Profound dysplastic changes of proerythroblasts are suggestive of neoplastic growth.