[Detection of antibodies to soluble blast cell antigens in acute leukemia]

Antibodies to soluble antigens of blast (autologous and allogeneic) and donor lymphocytes were studied in the reaction of passive hemagglutination in 44 patients with different forms of acute leukemia at the time of diagnosis, prior to chemotherapy, and in 22 healthy persons. Donors' sera did not show any antibodies while those of acute leukemia patients did in 94% of cases. It was revealed that the titre of antibodies of patients with non-lymphoblast forms of acute leukemia was statistically higher than that of patients with lymphoblast leukemia. No differences were revealed in the titres of auto- and alloblast antibodies. The antibodies mentioned belong to IgM. A correlation was observed between the titre of antibodies and IgM concentration in patients' sera. The preliminary data have demonstrated an unfavourable course of the disease in patients with high titres of antibodies.