[Leukocyte chromatin anisotropy in patients with leptospirosis]

Chromatin anisotropy is measured and its correlation with the cytochemical activity of leukocytes estimated in 19 patients with icterohemorrhagic leptospirosis. Leukocyte and neutrophil nuclei chromatin anisotropy increases during the acute period of leptospirosis, indicating an increase of cuchromatization and transcription activity. Neutrophil nuclei euchromatization is observed in patients with all forms of leptospirosis irrespective of the disease severity. Lymphocyte nuclei euchromatization is observed only in the patients with a favorable course but not in those with the severe course of the disease. Correlations between neutrophil and lymphocyte nuclei euchromatization and cytochemical activity of lymphocytes and monocytes are detected. The optic anisotropic effect is proposed to be used as an extra diagnostic criterion of leptospirosis severity.