Serum glycoconjugates in patients with anemia and myeloid leukemia

Because of carbohydrate alterations in malignant cells, serum glycoproteins have drawn considerable attention. In the current investigation we determined total sialic acid (TSA), lipid bound sialic acid (LSA), protein bound hexoses (galactose + mannose), fucose, hexosamines (galactosamine + glucosamine) and mucoid protein concentrations in the serum of patients with anemia and myeloid leukemia. The results were compared with those obtained in healthy individuals. In the leukemia patients we observed significant increases in glycoconjugates compared with the controls (P less than 0.001), and in TSA and fucose levels compared with the anemia patients (P less than 0.001). LSA and hexosamine levels were significantly lower in anemia patients with respect to the leukemia patients (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.05 respectively), whereas levels of mucoid proteins and hexoses did not show significant differences. Except for hexosamines, all the markers tested were significantly elevated in the anemia patients compared with the controls. The present study suggests that the glycoconjugates investigated might be useful biochemical markers for differentiating anemic from leukemic conditions.