Specific anti-hairy cell and anti-B cell antisera: characterization of surface antigens and origin of hairy cells.

Hairy cells obtained from nine patients with hairy cell leukaemia were found to be sensitive to a heterologous anti-human B lymphocyte serum using a cytotoxicity assay and the ultrastructural characterization after immunoperoxydase labelling. This antiserum raised in the rabbit and rendered specific by extensive absorptions with human immunoglobulins, erythrocytes, thymocytes and monocytes, reacted with normal and pathological B lymphocytes but not with monocytes, as demonstrated by ultrastructural studies. In addition, a heterologous anti-hairy cell serum was prepared and absorbed with erythrocytes, thymocytes and monocytes.

[Endolymphatic curietherapy by lymphography with labelled lipiodol in Hodgkin's disease. A report on 408 cases (author's transl)].

The results of 373 lymphography examinations with radioactive lipiodol, conducted in 408 patients with Hodgkin's disease for diagnostic and prophylactic therapeutic purposes, during investigations carried out from 1966 to 1973 are analyzed. Tolerance was always excellent, especially from the hematological point of view. The efficacy of the procedure can be assessed by the fact that there were only 6% of failures (21/373) in glandular regions irradiated in this way for prophylactic purposes.

[Treatment of 100 acute myeloid leukemias (author's transl)].

Between november 1974 and august 1976, 100 acute myeloïd leukemias were treated by the same protocol L. 275. Induction treatment was daunorubicine, vincristine, cytosine arabinoside, in one intensive course for patients under 65 and cyclophosphamide (CPM), VCR and CAR in a less intensive and repetitive courses for patients over 65.

[Prognostic value of delayed-hypersensitivity skin tests and rosette studies in acute non-lymphoid leukemias].

Delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions to Tuberculin and Candidin were studied in 28 patients with non lymphoid acute leukemias. The reactions were found negative in most patients during blastic crises, whereas delayed skin reactions to Candidin were positive during remissions. The possible prognostic significance of the depressed delayed hypersensitivity response in such patients deserves further studies.

BCG therapy in acute non lymphoid leukaemias.

The survival of patients with acute non-lymphoid leukaemias (ANLL) receiving chemotherapy (32 patients) or chemotherapy plus BCG (31 patients) has been compared in a randomized trial which started in Nov 1974. Fresh BCG (Institut Pasteur, Paris) was administered by Heaf gun in the interval of chemotherapy cycles. The overall survival was better in the chemo-immunotherapy group (median duration of survival of 25 months compared to 16 months in the chemotherapy group).

Delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions in the induction phase of remission in acute non lymphoid leukemias.

Delayed skin reactions to Tuberculin (10 units, intradermal) and Candidin (1:1000, intra dermal) were studies in a homogenous group of 41 patients with acute non lymphoid leukemias in their initial phase. Remission-rate is higher in non-anergic patients (63%) than in anergic patients (32%), (p less than 0.05).

[Prolonged survival in 16 cases of acute myeloid leukemia [author's transl)].

16 our of 370 acute myeloid leukemias treated between 1964 and 1973 have been in long survival for more than three years. In the first period 1964-1971 the overall remission rate was 20% and 6 patients has a long survival. In the last two years of study, 10 out of 96 patients have more than three years of survival, the remission rate was over 50%.

[Use of local cobalt therapy in peripheral neuropathies associated with chronic lymphopathies (lymphoses). 2 cases with histo-immunologic and ultrastructural records].

In two cases of peripheral neuropathy, associated with a chronic lymphopathy, cobalt therapy to the lower limbs provided considerable relief of pain, with partial motor recovery. The disappearance after cobalt therapy of the lymphoid infiltrate of the peripheral nerve leads to discussion of the pathogeni role of this infiltrate. Immunofluorescent and electron microscopic studies form the basis of a discussion of the mechanism of involvement of the peripheral nerve non-secreting lymphopathies (chronic lymphoid leukaemia) and in secreting lymphopathies (Waldenström's disease).

Polymorphonuclear function in acute myeloblastic leukemia.

A study of granulocyte functions in acute myeloblastic leukemia is reported. Functions were assessed by the ability of polymorphonuclear to migrate in Boyden's chamber, to ingest and kill staphylococcus aureus. Chemotaxis was grossly impaired.

Chemo-immunotherapy versus chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia. Preliminary results.

Since November 1974, 44 patients with acute myeloid leukemia, in first remission were randomized between chemotherapy alone and chemotherapy plus BCG. There were 8 relapses and 7 deaths with chemotherapy, 7 relapses and 3 deaths with chemotherapy plus BCG. The survival of both groups is not, at the time, significantly different.

[The Waardenburg-Klein syndrome].

A case of Waardenburg-Klein syndrome associated with a Hodgkin's disease is reported in a 29 year old female. Such an association seems to be fortuitous. The authors discuss the dermatological aspects of this rare disease, particularly the disturbances of cutaneous pigmentation.

[Encephalic pseudotumoral toxoplasmosis in the course of blood diseases].

The authors report two cases, the first pathological and the second clinical of pseudo-tumoural cerebral toxoplasmosis, occurring during the course of blood diseases. They refer to the conditions of appearance of this rare complication, with only twenty cases recorded in the literature, during malignant blood diseases. They stress the primordial role of immunological deficiency related either to the underlying disease (especially Hodgkin's disease) or to immuno-suppressive therapy.

Short induction treatment in acute granulocytic leukemia.

Short treatment with four cytostatics in acute granulocytic leukemia induced aplasia and reduction of total leukemic cells in 50 over 59 patients. Complete remission occured in 30 and 20 died with infectious complications during induction. Short induction treatment allowed a reduction of induction period and so a reduction of high risk period of induction before completion of complete remission.

[Study of neurological manifestations of chronic lymphatic leukemia (lymphosis). Role of associated globulin anomalies (apropos of 8 cases)].

The authors emphasize the relative frequency of neurological symptoms in lymphatic leukaemia. Clinically, these cause more or less diffuse encephalitic or multineuritic syndromes, generally a combination of the two. Their pathogenesis is usually connected with lymphoid tissue infiltration into either the meninges or the vascular sheaths of the central nervous system or the sheaths of the roots or of the peripheral nerves.