Alkaline Phosphatase of Mature Neutrophils in Various Polycythemias

Abstract

MANY observers have noted that the alkaline phosphatase content of mature neutrophils is markedly elevated in cases of polycythemia vera.^{1 2 3 4} In our previous study³ the levels were found to be consistently high, and the therapy given to the patients had no essential effect on the enzyme content.In the present study the levels of the enzyme in mature granulocytes of polycythemia vera were compared with those in other forms of "polycythemia," including the anoxemic erythrocytosis (secondary polycythemia) of congenital heart disease and chronic pulmonary disease and the erythrocytosis occasionally found in association with certain tumors, as well as in a . . .