SATISFACTORY REMISSION ACHIEVED BY PUVA THERAPY IN A CASE OF CRISIS-TYPE ADULT T-CELL LEUKEMIA LYPHOMA WITH GENERALIZED CUTANEOUS LEUKEMIC-CELL INFILTRATION

We used PUVA therapy in a patient with crisis-type adult T-cell leukae mia/lymphoma and generalized cutaneous leukaemic cell infiltration. PU VA proved very effective in reducing leukaemic cells and in clearing t he eruption. To understand the way in which PUVA produced a reduction in the number of leukaemic cells, we examined peripheral blood cells b y light and electron microscopy. Light microscopy was of little help, but electron microscopy revealed that PUVA induced apoptosis-like chan ges in circulating leukaemic cells. This suggests that apoptosis-like changes in leukaemic cells might be the reason for the success of this treatment.