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B-cell chronic lymphatic leukaemia (B-CLL) is characterized by proliferation and accumulation of small B-lymphocytes, which are monoclonal in organ. The changes in IL-6 and IL-12 concentrations usually occur during the course of B-CLL. IL-6 and IL-12 seem to be positive kinetic regulators of stem cells. Therefore the purpose of our study was to examine the changes in concentrations of IL-6 and IL-12 in blood plasma, culture supernatant and isolated and broken lymphocytes from patients with B-CLL. The study was performed in I (n = 12) and III (n = 12) stage of disease according to Rai's classification--20 males and 4 females (aged 45-65) and in 12 healthy volunteers blood donors 35-55 years old. The study was approved by the local ethics committee. The measurement of concentrations of IL-6 was performed using the IL-6 immunoenzyme set of ELISA, R&D Systems Europe (UK) in plasma, culture supernatant and broken leukaemic cells. The results showed a significant increase in IL-6 and IL-12 concentration in blood plasma, culture supernatant and inside of the lymphocytes at I and III stage of B-CLL with regard to control groups. An increase of IL-6 and IL-12 concentrations in blood plasma and culture supernatant may suggest higher secretions by lymphocytes these interleukins during the course of B-CLL. An increase of IL-12 in broken leukaemic cells could be characteristic for the biochemistry of malignant lymphocytes.

The purpose of our study was to examine concentrations of IL-1 beta, IL-1 beta R, IL-6 and IL-6R in blood plasma, culture supernatant and isolated broken lymphocytes in 20 patients with CLL, at I and III stage of the disease according to Rai's classification and in 10 healthy control subjects. The studies were carried out on the cultures of cells nonstimulated and stimulated with mitogene. A significant increase in IL-1 beta and IL-6 concentrations were found in all study groups during the course of B-CLL. The values of IL-1 beta R and IL-6R were increased in blood plasma at I and III stage of CLL and decreased in culture supernatants and broken lymphocytes before and after stimulation in comparison to control groups. In all cases studied parameters were higher after stimulation. In conclusion, significant increase of IL-1 beta and IL-6 concentrations during CLL may advocacy of higher synthesis and excretions of interleukins--stimulatores of cell proliferation by leukaemic lymphocytes. Increased IL-1 beta R and IL-6R concentrations in blood plasma during CLL, seems to be one of the mechanisms restricted access of IL-1 beta and IL-6 to their surface receptors. An increase of IL-1 beta and IL-6 concentrations and decrease of IL-1 beta R and IL-6R volues suggest survival of autoregulation mechanisms defended against autocrine excreted interleukins. The volues of concentrations of IL-1 beta and IL-1 beta R positively correlated with progress of disease. Such correlation was not found with respect to concentrations of IL-6 and IL-6R.

The aim of this study was to estimate the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to release of soluble CD44 standard (sCD44st) compared to concentration in the serum of patients B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The results showed the decrease of secretion of sCD44 by leukaemic cells in studied patients. There was no significant differences between patients with I and III stage according to Rai classification. In the serum of patient group we found higher concentrations of sCD44 in comparison with control group. Lack correlation between the concentrations of sCD44 in the cultures and serum suggest that other than leukaemic cells may be significant source of this molecule in patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The aim of study was to evaluate TF activity and TFPI concentration in patients with haematological malignancies and urinary tract tumors. TFPI concentration and activity and TF concentration were measured in 20 patients suffering from acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML), 21 patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML), 17 patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL), 16 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and 65 healthy adults. TFPI and TF concentrations were measured also in patients with renal cell carcinoma (n = 12) and bladder cancer (n = 17) and patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (n = 15). Patients with AML, CML, CLL, and cancer revealed elevated TFPI concentrations. Patients with AML, CML, CLL, MM showed decreased TFPI activity. However TFPI concentration correlated inversely with TFPI activity only in the AML group. No significant changes were observed in TF concentrations in all investigated groups.

Adhesion molecules actively participate in all stages of leukocyte migration, directly or indirectly by means of appropriate ligands. Therefore the aim of study was the determination of concentrations of L-selectin and ICAM-1 in cell culture supernatante, broken lymphocyte and plasma. The measurement of cell adhesion molecules (CA) concentrations were performed by means of immunoenzymatic kits of ELISA type in the patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in the clinicals stages I and III. The levels of L-selectin were increased in cell culture supernatante but in the plasma concentrations of L-selectin were decreased. The behaviour of concentrations of studied substances in the broken lymphocytes was differently. It is possible that these investigations may appear useful in the future as an additional diagnostic indecks.

Heterogeneity of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) may by partial an explanation of the ability of CLL cells to interact with the environment and it seems to be not related exclusively to cytogenetic abnormalities. For this reason T cell subpopulations were analysed in bone marrow and peripheral blood in two selected groups of B-CLL patients. These groups differed significantly in percentages of CD4+ helper T cells in bone marrow. In the first group (11 patients) percentage of CD4+ cells was higher than 9 p.c., in the second (10 patients) this percentage was equal, or lower than 2 p.c. Moreover these groups differed also in total tumor mass score (TTM-score) according to the criteria of Jaksić and Vitale. TTM-score in the first group was 9.7 in the second--22.9. In the first group CD4- cells predominated over CD8+ cytotoxic suppressor cells, as well as CD4+ CD45RO+ helper-inducer cells predominated over CD4+ CD45RA+ suppressor-inducer cells. In the second group we observed some superiority of CD8+ and CD4+ CD45RA+ cells. We can speculate that the predominance of CD4+ and CD4+ CD45RO+ cells over CD8+ and CD4+ CD45RA+ cells in bone marrow facilitate the proliferation or inhibits the apoptosis of CLL cells when the TTM-score is small. On the contrary when the TTM-score is larger, than the leukemic cells expanded in bone marrow without concomitant helper cells.

Retrospective investigations were carried out in 50 patients with L-LP in clinical stage IV. All those patients died of this disease. The life time of the studied patients varied from 2 to 120 months and the median was 29 months. Advanced age, co-occurrence of anaemia and increased serum gammaglobulin level were found to be bad prognostic factors. No correlation was found between life time and tumour size, platelet number, lymphocyte count of blood and bone marrow.

Plasma concentrations of interleukines 1, 3, 6, 8 and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) were estimated in 45 patients with leukaemias. Among patients were 12 with acute myeloblastic leukaemia-AML (type M1 according to FAB classification), 9 with chronic granulocytic leukaemia-CGL, 10 with blastic crisis of CGL (CGL-BC) and 14 with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia-CLL (in 1 and 2 stage according to Rai classification). Additionally the concentration of IL-3 was measured in 10 patients with exacerbation of CLL. Control group consisted of 12 health volunteers. The concentrations of interleukines and PDGF were determined by means of radioimmunoassay or immunoradiometric assay. In the patients with AML, CGL-BC and CLL significant increase of concentrations of IL-1B, IL-6 were found. The patients suffers from CGL and CGL-BC had increase concentrations of IL-3, but patients with CLL-interleukin 8. The concentrations of PDGF were significantly decreased in the patients with AML, CGL-BC, and CGL. The differences of concentrations of studied interleukines can confirm their great significance in proliferation of leukaemic cells. The decrease of concentrations of PDGF in myelocytic leukaemias may reflect thrombopoietic disturbances in these illnesses.

Two rare cases of spurious macrocytosis are reported: in a patient with lymphocytic lymphoma and in another patient with pneumonia caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. High blood titer of cold agglutinins resulted in appearing of microagglutination in vitro and false erythrocyte indices as measured by automatic blood cell counting.

The purpose of the study was evaluation of the effect of treatment on the immunological phenotype of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or in leukaemic forms of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, with low or medium grade malignancy. The study was carried out in 13 patient. In those responding to treatment a tendency was observed for normalization of the immunological phenotype of peripheral blood lymphocytes (increased proportion of cells forming rosettes with sheep erythrocytes, reduced proportion of cells forming rosettes with murine erythrocytes), and a tendency for polyclonal pattern of B-cells with immunoglobulins on their surface (although this feature was not a rule). In non-responders these tendencies were much less pronounced or absent. Similarly, in non-responders the tendency for polyclonal B-cell pattern may be only apparent, and may be connected with proliferation of a new lymphocyte population with another type of light chain.

Transfection technique with the use of high molecular DNA was applied for the investigations of peripheral blood white cells DNA transforming properties in patients with chronic lymphatic leukemia B. Using transfection tests in liquid medium (focus assay) and colony forming in soft agar, the differences in L(tk-) cells transformation were noted following an addition of neoplastic DNA. Medium collected over transformants has shown mitogen properties in micro-mitogen tests on cells BALB/c 3T3. No correlation between clinical stage of the disease and the results of tests was observed.

In a group of 23 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in 1-4 clinical stages of the disease according to Rai et al (34) classification, mostly untreated (only 5 treated) considerable heterogeneity was found as evidenced by: variability of the morphological patterns of bone marrow, differences of immunological phenotypes of peripheral blood lymphocytes between individual cases, --coexistence of the features of maturity and immaturity in the populations of peripheral blood lymphocytes in the same case.

The study comprised 128 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) aged 65.7 +/- 8 years, 59 women and 69 men. Among the patients studied 70 were treated and 58 yet not underwent therapy. The Rai classification of patients with CLL has been used. The control group consisted of 68 subjects aged 56.8 +/- 14 years, 35 women and 33 men, showing no diseases affecting the blood lipid disturbances. The following determinations have been performed in the blood serum: apo B, CH, TG, PL, and CH or PL in the isolated HDL fraction; LDL-CH ratio has also been calculated. In patients with CLL the total CH concentration has been noted which advanced parallel to the disease progress. It resulted first of all from the decrease in LDL-CH (p less than 0.05). Similar alterations have been noted so far as apo B is concerned. It has been demonstrated that the decrease in HDL-CH (p less than 0.05) is also dependent on the disease stage. The simultaneously increasing index HDL-PL/HDL-CH indicate on changes within the HDL2 and HDL3 subfractions suggesting a deficiency of the HDL2 subfraction. The total lipemia and the lipoprotein fraction alterations observed make the diagnostic value of the atherosclerotic threat in patients with CLL doubtful with the use of that parameters.

Ferritin levels in blood serum and mononuclear cells of the peripheral blood were determined in 60 patients with chronic lymphatic leukemia (group I), and 31 patients with other lymphomas of the low and medium degree of malignancy (group II). Significantly higher blood serum and mononuclear cells ferritin was found in the examined patients than in 54 healthy individuals. Particularly high ferritin levels were seen in blood serum of patients of group II in whom clinical stage of the disease was high. Moreover, moderate correlation of ferritin content in mononuclear cells and absolute leucocytosis was found in group I. This parameter correlated well with the percentage of poorly differentiated cells (group II).

The authors present clinical analysis of 57 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, observed during the first three stages of the disease according to Rai classification. The analysis of the presented material has confirmed the clinical and prognostic value of this classification, but at the same time has shown differences of clinical course of the disease in particular patient. There was no sex neither age effect on the clinical course of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The authors confirmed that leukocyte doubling time is a very useful prognostic factor in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.