Serum and Urinary Lysozyme in Leukaemia and Polycythaemia vera

Abstract

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.

Serum Lactoferrin in Leukaemia and Polycythaemia vera

“…The LF elevation observed in many cases of polycythaemia Vera parallels the findings with lysozyme (Binder & Gilbert 1970, Malmquist 1972. Although peripheral blood leucocytosis in polycythaemia is slight compared to that of chronic myelocytic leukaemia, kinetic studies indicate a significant increase in granulocyte turnover rate in most polycythaemia Vera cases; the range of turnover rate values overlaps with the range obtained in chronic myelocytic leukaemia (Athens et al 1965).…”

“…As with lysozyme (Malmquist 1972) there were no indications of any significant release of LF from leucocytes into serum in vitro, or of its presence in elevated concentrations in transfused plasma.…”

“…In relation to this figure the LF concentration in normal serum may seem quite low. As discussed previously for lysozyme (Malmquist 1972) there are reasons to assume that only a fraction of cellular proteins released at granulocyte disintegration will appear in blood plasma. In addition, LF that does arrive in plasma may well be rapidly removed.…”

“…The changes in serum lysozyme (muramidase), with or without lysozymuria, observed in leukaemias and allied disorders have attracted great interest. A survey of the literature has been made in a report on results obtained with an immunochemical method for lysozyme determination (Malmquist 1972).…”

Serum Myeloperoxidase in Leukaemia and Polycythaemia vera

“…As discussed for lysozyme (Malmquist 1972a) and lactoferrin (Malmquist 1972b), it is not possible to make any firm suggestions concerning the mechanisms for the release of MPO from leucocytes. Regarding possible mechanisms for its clearance from plasma, it is obvious that the kidneys cannot be involved, as the molecular size of the protein precludes glomerular filtration, unless it has been fragmented.…”