CLINICAL-VALUE OF SERUM LACTATE-DEHYDROGENASE, CERULOPLASMIN, CATHEPSIN-D AND LIPID-BOUND SIALIC-ACID IN MONITORING PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT-LYMPHOMAS

Malignant lymphomas, including both Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hod gkin's lymphoma (NHL), are serious health problems in the Egyptian pop ulation. The aim of this study was to search for diagnostic and progno stic tumour markers to be used in screening for malignant lymphomas. W e aimed to find any possible correlation between the different stages of lymphomas and their pathological types and to monitor the response of patients to chemotherapy. Measurement of serum ceruloplasmin and ca thepsin D activities proved to be useful tools in diagnosis and monito ring the treatment of malignant lymphomas, but were not specific for a ctive lymphomas. Total sialic acid (TSA) and lipid-bound sialic acid ( LSA) levels were also non-specific due to their elevation in non-malig nant lymph node lesions. The results indicate that serum lactate dehyd rogenase (LDH) and its isoenzymes are reliable diagnostic and prognost ic markers and do correlate with disease activity and this could be mo re specific than the other parameters studied. Med Sci Res 26:613-617 (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.