The dynamics of morphological and cytoenzymatic changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte lysosomes in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia during treatment.

ABSTRACT

Changes in the number of lysosomes were studied by method of Blum and the activity of acid phosphatase was determined by the method of Barka and Anderson in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in relation to the phase of the disease (according to Rai) and the method of treatment. Treatment with powerful cytostatic agents (cyclophosphamide with vinblastine) significantly changed the fluorescent and cytochemical findings, with a different pattern of changes in cases treated with success (remission) and in cases with unsuccessful treatment (death). The morphological evaluation of lysosomes in the lymphocytes can be used as a simple criterion of success in the treatment, and prognosis in this disease.