GLUTATHIONE-PEROXIDASE, REDUCED GLUTATHIONE, SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE ANDCATALASE IN RED-CELLS OF PATIENTS WITH HAIRY-CELL LEUKEMIA

Red cell antioxidant enzymes have been recently studied in malignant l ymphomas and the results are controversial. Hairy cell leukemia is a r are chronic lymphoproliferative disorder originating probably in a plu ripotent stem cell. In the present study, glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) , reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase were measured in a homogenous group of patients with untreated hairy c ell leukemia and normal controls. Glutathione peroxidase, catalase and SOD activities were significantly lower in patients than in normals. GSH was not significantly different in patients compared to controls. There was no correlation between Gpx, GSH, SOD, and catalase and hemog lobin; reticulocytes, leukocytes, hairy cells, platelets number or spl enomegaly. Taken together these data suggest a decreased activity of r ed cell antioxidant enzymes in hairy cell leukemia and support a pluri potent stem cell defect of these abnormalities.