INTRACELLULAR GLUTATHIONE CONTENT IN LEUKEMIAS

The intracellular glutathione (GSH) content was measured in 73 patient s with leukemia and compared with controls. GSH content was between 1. 16 and 5.55 mu mol/g protein (mean 2.96 +/- 0.86) in the study group a nd between 0.5 and 1.48 mu mol/g protein (mean 1.31 +/- 0.27) in the c ontrol group, statistically significant difference (p = 0.0000). There was no significant difference between acute and chronic leukemias, ly mphoid and myeloid leukemias and, more importantly, newly diagnosed an d relapsed patients. GSH content did not change significantly with cli nical and hematologic parameters such as age, sex, and initial hematol ogic findings. In addition, variable changes were detected over 24 h i n 9 patients. It can be concluded that GSH content in leukemic cells w as higher than in controls and showed a wide range. The absence of a r elationship between GSH content and clinical and laboratory parameters suggested that GSH is not the sole determinant of response to cytotox ic drugs. GSH variation over a 24-hour period may be important in the timing and success of chemotherapy for leukemias.