Anti-lymphocyte antibody levels in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

A radioimmunoassay for measuring levels of lymphocyte autoantibody in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) has been developed. Antibody in the form of crude IgG was extracted from patients' sera and iodinated. The assay utilizes its cross-reactivity with other CLL cells. Levels were measured in 23 patients. The results show that an inverse relationship exists between the quantity of circulating CLL autoantibodies and the number of mouse red blood cell rosetting lymphocytes (M cells). The preliminary findings do not correlate with disease activity although it is our impression that patients who are maintaining higher levels of autoantibody and fewer M-rosetting cells have nonprogressive disease.