[The morphoimmunological correlates in the leukemic degeneration of prolymphocytic lymphosarcoma]

Morphocytochemical and immunologic features of the bone marrow and peripheral blood lymphoid elements were studied in 40 patients with B-prolymphocytic lymphosarcoma in the stage of leukemic degeneration. Four types of pathologic lymphoid cells were distinguished: large prolymphocytes expressing pan-B CD19 and HLA-Dr antigens, medium-sized prolymphocytes with round nuclei, characterized by activation CD38 and CD45Ra antigens, prolymphocytes with split nuclei containing light and heavy immunoglobulin chains, and leukemic lymphocytes containing, besides pan-B antigens and immunoglobulins, antigens of the early hemopoietic (CD34) and early B-(CD10) precursors. The content of the RAS-positive substance in the prolymphocytes was inversely proportional to the parameters of activation antigens expression. Acid phosphatase activity correlated with the expression of CD22 and CD45Ra antigens.