NEUTROPHIL DEFECT IN MULTIPLE-MYELOMA - STUDIES ON INTRA-NEUTROPHILIC LYSOZYME IN MULTIPLE-MYELOMA AND MALIGNANT LYMPHOMA

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 17  (1) , 62-70
Abstract
Intracellular lysozyme concentration was measured in neutropholic granulocytes from 25 patients with multiple myeloma. At diagnosis intraneutrophil lysozyme activity was significantly reduced (mean reduction 50%). During clinical remission after 1-4 mo. of intensive chemotherapy values were normalized. In 18 cases studied at various stages of the disease from 6-70 mo. after diagnosis there was a significant negative correlation between the duration of the disease and neutrophil lysozyme concentration. The decrease in neutrophil lysozyme concentration was significantly correlated to clinical disease activity and the percentage of plasma cells in bone marrow aspirates; there was no correlation between the concentration of M-protein in serum and the neutrophil lysozyme concentration. Plasma lysozyme concentration was normal. Neutrophil lysoyzme concentration was normal in 18 patients with stage III-IV malignant lymphoma. Plasma lysozyme in this group was significantly higher than normal. The difference in neutrophil lysozyme patterns between multiple myeloma and malignant lymphoma supports the hypothesis that the defect in neutrophil maturation seen in malignant blood disorders is directly related to infiltration of the bone marrow by pathologic cells.

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