Plasma Lactoferrin Concentration in Acute Non-Lymphocytic Leukaemia (ANLL)

Plasma lactoferrin concentration was measured in 46 patients with acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemia. In 8/46 (17%) elevated lactoferrin concentrations, above the upper limit of normal (450 {mu}g/1), were found. Elevated plasma lactoferrin concentrations were associated with a significantly reduced chance of achieving CR (1/8; 12.5%) as compared to those with normal (100-450 {mu}g/1) or low (<100 {mu}g/1) lactoferrin concentrations (CR rate 27/38; 71%). Elevated plasma lactoferrin concentrations were associated with higher peripheral blast cell counts but with low polymorph counts suggesting origin of the lactoferrin from partially differentiated cells originating from the leukaemic clone. The failure to achieve CR among patients with high lactoferrin values was associated with death in aplasia suggesting further that elevated plasma lactoferrin may define a group of patients with little residual normal heamopoetic reserve.