[Informative morphogenetic variance in children with acute lymphoid leukemia and in members of their families]

Earlier studies suggested an increased prevalence of minor morphological aberrations and variants, also termed informative morphogenetic variants (IMVs) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and possibly in their siblings, however, family investigations have not been performed in this field. In the present survey the occurrence of 54 well-defined IMVs was determined in 50 children with ALL, in their 53 siblings, 49 mothers, and 41 fathers. 170 children examined for acute infections served as controls. A significantly increased prevalence on IMVs was found in the ALL-patients and in their siblings: their IMV/subject ratios were 1.32 and 1.38, respectively, whereas the same parameter was 0.75 in the mothers, 0.66 in the fathers, and 0.76 in the controls. The same tendency was observed when familial cases and/or age-dependent IMVs were excluded. No association of ALL with given specific IMVs or combinations was found. On the basis of an increased prevalence of minor morphological aberrations no conclusion concerning predisposition to ALL or any other malignancy can be drawn at the moment. However, further investigation of the problem is justified, since the research of such association may reveal new details of prenatal origin and predisposition of childhood malignancy.