Behaviour of leukocyte acid phosphatase in various chronic diseases.

Leukocyte acid phosphatases were investigated in 146 patients with different chronic diseases. The method of investigation used was that of Kaplow and Burstone slightly modified by the authors in what regards the pH of the incubation medium. Normal or slightly increased scores were observed in the granulocytic series of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, chronic hepatitis, lupus erythematosus disseminatus and chronic lymphocytic leukemia a moderate enzymatic activity was generally observed in the lymphocyte and more marked in severe forms of disease. A marked increase of the enzyme activity was observed in patients with myeloma. The possibility of a correlation between the intensity of enzyme activity and immunoglobulin formation is discussed.