H- AND L-FERRITINS IN ACUTE LEUKEMIA

Abstract

We have studied H- and L-subunits of ferritin in acute leukemia. Our data makes it possible to suggest that the appearance of considerable numbers of ferritin in the serum of patients with clonal blood diseases is connected with its secretion with lymphocytes. As it is impossible to establish the reliable correlation between the dimension of the tumor in leukemia and the level of ferritin, then the ferritin secretion is hypothetically relating to its regulatory functions. We have shown that the separate testing of H- and L-forms of ferritin makes it possible to determine the content of serum ferritin. It has been established that the content of serum ferritin differs in acute leukemia at attacks and remission but it is necessary to accumulate the data for the comprehension of true diagnostic H-ferritin value. It is possible that in the nearest future hematologic syndromes in malignant tumors, i.e. clonal processes from the inflammation-associated syndromes, can be differentiated according to the content of serum ferritin.