Porphobilinogen deaminase activity in malignant proliferative disorders of the lymphatic system and bone marrow.

ABSTRACT

Porphobilinogen deaminase activity was studied in the erythrocytes of 73 women and 35 men with various malignant proliferative disorders of the lymphatic system and bone marrow, and, for comparison, in the erythrocytes of 34 women and 14 men with non malignant diseases of the haemopoietic system, and in those of 20 healthy women and 20 healthy men. The activity of the enzyme was determined by the Hsiao et al. method, using porphobilinogen as a substrate. Statistical analysis showed a significant decrease of porphobilinogen deaminase activity in the erythrocytes of men with Hodgkin's disease and women with plasmocytoma and with myeloblastic leukemia; an increased activity of the studied enzyme was found only in men with lymphocytic leukemia.