Isoenzymatic Study of Leucocytic Acid Phosphatase in Haematologic Diagnosis

Abstract

Isoenzymatic study of leukocytic acid phosphatase under normal conditions identified 3 isoenzymatic bands, which exhibited noticeable cell specificity. Band 2 was granulocytic, band 3 lymphocytic and band 4 monocytic in origin. Pathologic deviations in the isoenzymatic pattern were qualitative and quantitative. For some diseases such as chronic lymphocyte leukemia there was a well-defined, differential pattern according to immunological B-[bone marrow-derived] or T-[thymus-derived] cell origin. More significant qualitative aspects were the appearance of abnormal bands, especially band 3b, indicating blastic cellularity and 5, corresponding to hairy cells. Isoenzymatic analysis of acid phosphatase activity was a simple hematologic complementary test, particularly useful in differential diagnosis of [human] lymphoproliferative disorders with peripheral blood manifestations.