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In 31 patients, covering a wide range of blood neutrophil counts and turnover rates, the plasma concentrations of myeloperoxidase and lactoferrin have been measured with radioimmunoassays and compared to neutrophil kinetic parameters, measured with DPzP-labeled neutrophils. It was found that the plasma concentrations of both proteins correlated signacantly with the total number of neutrophils in the blood (TBGP=total blood granulocyte pool) as well as with the neutrophil turnover rate (GTR=granulocyte turnover rate), which is evidence that neutrophilic granulocytes are the main suppliers of myeloperoxidase and lactoferrin to the plasma. In contrast to the previously demonstrated better relationship between the GTR and plasma lysozyme, a protein also originating in neutrophil granules, both myeloperoxidase and lactoferrin correlated better with the TBGP. These differences may reflect differences in the mode of release of intragranular proteins from neutrophils to the plasma. The correlation of the plasma lactoferrin concentration with the TBGP was so good as to suggest its use in the clinical assessment of the TBGP.

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A young woman with a previous history of anorexia nervosa presented with severe finger clubbing. Urine samples intermittently contained significant amounts of aspartylglucosamine. Liver biopsy showed abnormal cytoplasmic inclusions in phagocytic cells. The patient was found to be abusing senna laxative.

The results of immunochemical determination of lysozyme in serum and urine from 51 patients with leukaemia and polycythaemia vera are presented. Previous reports that large elevations of serum lysozyme tend to be associated with a monocytoid leukaemic cell morphology have been confirmed. However, lysozyme determinations do not provide a clear dichotomy between ‘monocytic’ leukaemia and other acute leukaemia. In polycythaemia vere, in contrast to erythrocytosis of other origin, serum lysozyme is elevated, although only to a minor degree. The influence of renal glomerular filtration on serum lysozyme is emphasized, and data from 46 individuals with various degrees of impairment of renal function are presented. Possible mechanisms for the release of lysozyme from leucocytes are discussed.