Cyclic lysozyme administration as a tool for immunopotentiation in patients with multiple myeloma

Fourteen patients with multiple myeloma (MM) were given chemotherapy courses for 7 days followed by 21-day intervals, combined with an immunomodulating treatment, namely lysozyme (LZM), 2 g daily for three weeks every other interval. Some parameters of cell-mediated immunity (total-E-rosettes, monocyte and polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis, skin tests) as well as humoral immunity (serum Ig levels, electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis) were evaluated comparatively in the intervals with and in those without LZM administration. A significant increase in total-E-rosettes and monocyte chemotaxis was observed in about half of the patients studied, this enhancement being accompanied by a reduction in both frequency and severity of viral and bacterial infections. No side-effects ascribable to LZM were recorded in any of the patients.