[The differentiation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes by immunological methods. III. Results in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (author's transl)].

In 47 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia surface markers were evaluated on mononuclear cells of the peripheral blood as well as in some cases on bone marrow lymphocytes. The lymphocytes were characterized by their binding capacity for sheep red blood cells, the demonstration of Fc-receptors, complement receptors as well as surface immunoglobulins. In 6 of 23 untreated patients the blasts bound sheep red blood cells spontaneously (T-ALL), in two of these six cases the lymphoblasts had simultaneously receptors for complement. In a further patients the lymphoblasts had complement- and Fc-receptors. The blasts of 16 of 23 patients were negative in respect to the markers tested (O-ALL). By comparing two groups of patients--one with positive cells, one unreactive--the clinical features differed: the marker positive group showed a predominance of male patients, 5 of 7 patients had a massive mediastinal mass and the remission rate was lower than in the group with positive blasts. 24 patients in remission under maintance treatment had a decreased percentage of rosette forming lymphocytes as well as lymphocytes with surface immunoglobulins and Fc-receptors. There existed some correlation between the percentage of rosette forming lymphocytes and the clinical course: patients with complications had lower percentages of rosette forming lymphocytes than patients with a favourable course.