[Immunologic parameters in acute lymphatic leukemias in the course of different types of chemotherapy (author's...

In 2 groups of patients under treatment with acute lymphatic leukemia and undifferentiated leukemia, apart from the lymphocyte count, a number of immunologic parameters were examined during the various stages of treatment. These parameters were related to the type of chemotherapy as well as the stages of treatment. This paper deals with the values of lymphocyte counts, of gammaglobulin, IgG, IgM and IgA and the results of the DNCB skin-tests, as a parameter for cellular immunity. The determination of gammaglobulin using the acetate sheet electrophoreses, showed no significant change. However a significant reduction of the IgG was shown during the periods of prophylactic reinduction with Vincristin in the Pinkel VII scheme. IgM quantities were significantly raised in the initial stage before treatment and in all periodes of treatment both in the Pinkel VII group and in an earlier therapeutic group with methotrexate two weekly and Vincristin pulses every 6 weeks. IgA was raised in both groups before treatment but significantly reduced during maintenance and reinduction phases. About 50% of the P VII cases had negative DNCB skintests during maintenance therapy, while all long term survivors in the earlier methotrexate treatment group had positive skintests. The 2 following papers deal with the results of PHA stimulation and the B and T cell determinations.