Serum proteins and immunoglobulins in patients with carcinoma of the bilharzial bladder

The sera of 25 patients suffering from advanced stages [T3 and T4] of carcinoma of the bilharzial urinary bladder were examined for serum proteins and immunoglobulin levels. In addition, sera of 16 bilharzial cystitis patients and of 16 normal healthy individuals were included in the study. While there was a reduction in the albumin level and an increase in alpha-1, alpha-2, and gamma globulin levels in the sera of the 25 cancer patients, the beta globulins remained apparently unchanged and the alpha-2/beta ratio had therefore inverted values [1.5] as compared to normal controls [0.9]. A definite increase in IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE fractions in bilharzial bladder cancer patients was found. The immunoglobulin levels were higher in patients with T3 than with T4 lesions. On the other hand, there was a marked decrease in the non-immunoglobulin component[s] in sera of the cancer patients. This decrease was noted more in patients with T4 than in those with T3 lesions. Serum proteins and immunoglobulins in the bilharzial cystitis patients had intermediate values more or less midway between the bladder cancer patients and the normal controls

value of determination of paraproteins in malignant lymphoma

Forty three patients in stage III and IV malignant lymphoma [17 H.D. and 26 N.H.L] were investigated in this study for presence of paraproteins in their sera and subsequently of clinical manifestations of paraproteinaemia. Twenty nine of them were males and 14 were females. Their ages ranged between 15 and 65 years. Twenty one [48.8%] presented with one or more of the clinical manifestations related to paraproteins in their sera: cold urticaria was detected in 12 occasions, purpura in 8, chilblains in 6. tingling and numbness in 4, Chronic leg ulcers in 4, acrocyanosis in 2, vasculitis and Raynaud's phenomenon each in one occasion. Qualitative and quantitative determination of the different types of paraproteins was performed. Cryoglobulin was found in the sera of 30 patients [69.7%]. paraglobulin was detected in 14 patients [32.5%]. Simple type of cryoglobulin [mostly of IgG] was present in 19 patients and mixed type [IgG and IgM] in 11 patients and both types were more frequent in females. Cold urticaria, purpura, chilbains and chronic leg ulcers were associated with simple cryoglobulins in most occasions, while patients complaining of tingling sensation and numbness, acrocyanosis and vasculitis had mostly mixed cryoglobulins. Pyroglobulin have no clinical significance, yet it was associated with high level of cryoglobulin. Hypoalbuminaemia was detected in 56% of cases. The main disturbance in globulin was elevation in total globulin, alpha-1 and gamma fractions. Hypergammaglobulinaemia was marked in H.D. [88.1%] than N.H.L. patients [34.6%]. Chemotherapy treatment showed decrease in cryoglobulin level in some cases, while there was an obvious increase in the albumin, normalisation of globulin and improvement in the general condition of patients