Abstract
Serum deoxythymidine kinase (TK) was measured in 15 patients with the acute type of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), in 4 with chronic ATL, in 10 with lymphoma type ATL, in 9 with pre-ATL, in 11 with human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) associated with myelopathy (HAM) and in 19 HTLV-I carriers. All these patients were positive for anti-HTLV antibody. The level of TK in pretreatment serum was highest in acute ATL (15.6–1600 U/1, median 107 U/1). It was elevated in chronic ATL (5.4–55.0 U/1, median 37.6 U/1) and lymphoma ATL (6.8–316 U/1, median 16.8 U/1) but normal in pre-ATL(1.8–4.7 U/1, median 2.8 U/1), HAM (1.2–6.0 U/1, median 3.0 U/1) and HTLV-I carriers (1.1–4.6 U/1, median 2.3 U/1). Statistical examination revealed a significant difference between the levels of acute ATL and chronic ATL/lymphoma ATL. In the patients of this series, a close correlation between the level of TK and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was statistically present ( p < 0.01). These facts indicate that TK level is a useful indicator of the aggressiveness of ATL cells.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
