Effect of Nitrogen Mustard on Serum Complement in vitro and in Patients with Neoplastic Disease

Abstract

The mean serum complement titers of 42 patients with various neoplastic diseases (mostly lymphomas and leukemias) did not differ significantly from that of 12 normal adults. The range of complement values was greater among these patients than among the normals, but the erratic titers did not appear to be related to clinical status. No depression of human complement titer was observed following the clinical use of nitrogen mustard and X-ray in maximal dosage. Human complement was inactivated by high concns. of nitrogen mustard in vitro, but not by concns. in the range which is achieved in clinical usage.