[The cytochemical determination of lysosomal cationic proteins in the blood neutrophils in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Examinations of 33 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have revealed Stages I-II circulation insufficiency in 15. The findings were compared with those in 20 untrained normal subjects and 8 athletes. Lysosomal cationic protein levels were measured in polymorphonuclear leukocytes by the cytochemical method at rest, at the peak of dosed exercise (permanently increasing bicycle spiroergometry) and over the course of the recovery period--in 3, 12, and 24 h after exercise. The neutrophil distribution was also estimated by the staining intensity. Lysosomal cationic protein levels in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with and without circulation insufficiency were changed to a different degree; these characteristics essentially varied in the patients, normal untrained subjects, and athletes. Changed levels of lysosomal cationic proteins appear to reflect the microcirculation disorders and the augmenting hypoxemia in the patients with circulation insufficiency, and thus may be used as a criterion to assess the clinical course of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.