Biochemical and molecular analyses indicated a stimulation of oxidative metabolism in white blood cells through carnitine uptake.

The gender-specific prevalence of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) in premenopausal women suggests a hormonal etiology. Despite the antiestrogenic treatment (ovariectomy, tamoxifen) this disease is often refractory to therapy and almost inevitably leads to the patient's death. We describe a case where the antiproliferative effect of systemically applied interferon alpha 2b was successfully employed in addition to ovariectomy and the patient reached complete remission.

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A case of polymorphic immunocytoma (B cell lymphoma) coinciding with expression of Tn antigen on a population of erythrocytes is presented. Tn activation was found incidentally by screening blood samples of patients suffering from hematologic malignancies with a Tn specific lectin from Salvia sclarea. So far, Tn activation has been reported only in apparently healthy subjects or in subjects suffering from or developing myeloid leukemia.

Background: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is frequently associated with disseminated coagulopathy (DIC), causing a high incidence of fatal bleeding complications despite induction chemotherapy administered immediately after diagnosis. APL is cytogenetically characterized by the translocation t(15;17) involving the region of the retinoic receptor Α gene. In vitro all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) exhibits a differentiation-inducing and antiproliferative capacity on APL-cell lines. Similar effects were observed when APL-patients treated with ATRA achieved complete remission. Patients and Methods: We have treated five patients with APL with 45 mg/m2 all trans retinoic acid for 90 to 106 days. Results: Signs of DIC, seen in four patients, improved within a few days of treatment. Hyperleukocytosis developed in two patients. ATRA side effects (dryness of skin, alopecia, bone pain) were mild and improved as treatment continued. All patients achieved complete hematological and cytogenetic remission within five to twelve weeks. Conclusion: ATRA therapy for APL is safe and highly effective, but further approaches for remission maintenance are required.