Serum alpha-1-acid-glycoprotein, haptoglobin and C3 in Hodgkin's disease. A comparison with other acute-phase indicators.

107 determinations of alpha 1-acid-glycoprotein (alpha 1S), haptoglobin (Hp) and complement fraction 3 (C3) were made in 85 consecutive patients with Hodgkin's disease, both in acute phase (77 measurements) and in complete remission (30 measurements). Only alpha 1S and Hp showed much higher levels in untreated disease than in remission, and elevation of alpha 1S in activity of the disease is correlated to advanced stages and - less significantly - to severe histology. The ability of alpha 1S, Hp and C3 to discriminate between activity and remission was compared with that of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), alpha 2-globinaemia (alpha 2), fibrinogenaemia (Fb), plasma copper (Cu) and iron (Fe), all data being collected at the same point in time in each patient. The well-known discrimination ability of combined Cu and Fe (75%) can be further improved by alpha 1S (81%) much more than by Hp, C3, ESR, alpha 2 and Fb singly computed and nearly up to the maximum allowed by the eight indexes together (82%).