[Copper and magnesium in the plasma and erythrocytes in leukemic patients]

Copper and magnesium in plasma and erythrocyte hemolysate were investigated of leucosis patients: acute and chronic (myelo-and lympholeucosis) in an active stage. In all patients, elevated average values of copper in plasma were established as compared with the controls (p greater than 0.05), being the highest in patients with lympholeucosis. Copper in erythrocyte hemolysate was not elevated in all three kinds of leucosis as compared with the controls (p greater than 0.05). Plasma magnesium was elevated in the patients with acute leucosis and chronic lympholeucosis, whereas in erythrocyte hemolysate, magnesium values were elevated in all three kinds of leucosis (p less than 0.05). The elevation of copper in plasma is associated with the malignant process and the elevation of magnesium in erythrocytes -- with a changed erythrocyte metabolism in leucosis patients.