Obtaining, evaluation and clinical application of antileukemic antilymphocyte globulin (ALLG) in the treatment of chronic lymphatic leukemia.

ABSTRACT

Antileukemic antilymphocyte globulin (ALLG) was obtained by immunizing horses with peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients suffering from chronic lymphatic leukemia. After absorbing the serum with erythrocytes, globulins were precipitated from the serum with ammonium sulfate. ALLG preparations were sterile, nontoxic and nonpyrogenic and contained no antibodies against basement membranes or antierythrocytic or antiplatelet antibodies. Nine patients with chronic lymphatic leukemia were treated with the globulin. Methods for selecting patients for treatment with ALLG and for controlled therapy were elaborated. Clinical and hematologic observation in the patients were reported. The high therapeutic efficacy of ALLG with high cytotoxic titer was emphasized. Beneficial hematologic and therapeutic effects were obtained in six patients. Attention was drawn to the efficiency of the combined therapy with ALLG, cytostatics and adrenal steroids.