BLOOD HISTAMINE LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE DISORDERS

Abstract

Blood histamine levels (BHL) in patients with malignant lymphomas - Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) as well as with chronic lymphocytic leukenia (CLL) were studied in the active phase of the diseases and during remission after treatment. BHL were significantly decreased by 2,5-fold in HD patients in the active phase as compared to the controls. After treatment and during remission BHL normalized. It was found out that according to the calculated correlation R and determination (D) coefficients of BHL with the obligatory indices for biological activity in HD (ESR, fibrinogen, serum iron, al-protein fraction), the most informative criterion for the active phase was ESR (R=0,99, D=98 %)followedbyBHL(R=-0,89, D=79%), andBHLduring remission (R=0,87, D=75 %). In NHL patients, no significant differences in BHL in comparison to clinically healthy persons were established independently of the process activity and grade of malignancy. In patients with CLL, however, BHL were statistically significantly (p < 0,01) elevated by 45,8 % during the active stage compared with the control group. A significant correlation was found between the BHL and leukocyte counts in the active phase of the disease (rs = 0,71, p < 0,001). BHL normalized during remission. Therefore, BHL can be used as an additional criterion for the evaluation of the biological activity and remission in HD patients.