Activity of natural killers in monoclonal gammapathies
Pozdniakova, L.V.; Trubcheninova, L.P.; Mokeeva, R.A.; Kadagidze, Z.G.
Gematologiia i Transfuziologiia 30(6): 26-29
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0234-5730 PMID: 3926597 Document Number: 267428
Natural killer (NK) cytotoxic activity was studied in 30 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and in 7 patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WMG) at the time of making diagnosis (primary patients) and two months after the completion of the chemotherapeutic course. The test groups included also 5 patients with benign monoclonal gammapathy and 25 normal subjects (controls). The analysis of the data obtained showed a decrease in the mean parameters of NK cytotoxic activity, more manifest in the generalized stage of the disease, in MM patients as compared to the control. The time course study demonstrated that the level of NK activity in MM patients correlated with the clinical course of the disease and therefore could be of prognostic importance in the evaluation of the process activity. A significantly high mean NK activity level was recorded in WMG patients that correlated with a more benign course of the disease as compared to MM. Patients with benign monoclonal gammapathy showing a low NK activity level comprised a group of risk with respect to a possible transformation of the process and further development of some tumors or lymphoproliferative diseases characterized by a lower NK activity.