Collagenolytic activity in leukocytes isolated from patients with leukemias and Hodgkin's disease.

Collagenolytic activity in leukocytes and plasma concentration of hydroxyproline were estimated in 80 patients with leukemias and Hodgkin's disease and in 20 healthy individuals. An increase of both studied parameters was found in chronic myelocytic leukemia and Hodgkin's disease, and a decrease was shown in acute myelocytic leukemia and acute lymphatic leukemia. The results obtained imply that metabolic changes occur in leukemia leukocytes, and indicate the presence of disturbances in the metabolism of connective tissue in the studied disorders.