[Changes in the meningogram during amethopterin treatment of meningosis leucaemica].

The authors examined the changes in the morphology of leucaemic lymphoblasts, obtained from cerebrospinal fluid and changes in the cellular content of meningograms after treatment of Meningosis leucaemica with amethopterin. On the basis of the degree of cytoplasmic and nuclear damage paraleucoblasts were divided into three types: Type I - undamaged paraleucoblasts Type 2 - paraleucoplasts with a slight degree of damage, mainly cytoplasmic Type 3 - parleucoblasts with grave degree of damage, mainly nuclear. In the course of the therapy there was a reduction of the number of nondamaged leucaemic cells, which was accompanied with an increase in the number of damaged leucaemic lymphoblasts, lymphoids, lymphocytes and neutrophils. The damage of paraleucoblasts as well as the difference in the ratio of single cellular elements showed dependence on the number of intrathecal applications of the cytostatic. The described cytologic criteria could be used for prescription, control and checking the effect of intrathecal treatment of Meningosis leucaemica with amethopterin.