Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia or malignant lymphomas

In sixty children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Hodgkin's disease or lymphosarcoma 121 determinations of the NBT test were performed in various periods of disease. All the children studied were free of infectious complications. In acute lymphoblastic leukemia the NBT test values were low during relapses of the disease and increased above normal values in the period of remission. In the group with Hodgkin's disease an increase of the NBT test values was always associated with the active stage of the disease. No significant differences between the relapse and the remission period were found in children with lymphosarcoma.