ATP-ase activity and lipid content of erythrocytes in treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children.

In erythrocytes of children with the acute lymphoblastic leukemia the rise in total phospholipid content, confined predominantly to lecithin, the decrease of cholesterol/phospholipid ratio and the increase of the Mg++-activated ATP-ase activity was found prior to treatment. The abnormalities of the lipid composition were in general persistent also in remission. The activity of erythrocytes ATP-ase decreased to normal values after achievement of the reversion of clinical and hematological symptoms of the disease. The increase of the enzyme activity may be induced by the in vitro incubation of normal erythrocyte with the blood plasma of patients in the acute stage of lymphoblastic leukemia but not in remission.