RESUMEN
The phagocytic activity of the peripheral blood monocytes from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL] patients was studied by chemiluminescence. The chemiluminescence index [CI] for phagocytic activity of 15 NHL patients and another 15 healthy individuals of matched age and sex were determined. The selected patients represented various clinical stages and different pathological grades. There was a statistical decrease in the CI [P<0.001] in untreated NHL patients, regardless of their clinical stage or pathological grade, as compared to the control group. There was a remarkable decrease in the CI determined for the patients of the clinical stages HI and IV [P<0.001] in comparison to those at stages I and II. The CI showed a decreasing trend with the advancement of the pathological grade. The results of chemo-or radio-therapy treatment were noticeable in improving the CI of the patients at stages IJI and low grade lymphoma. In view of the obtained results of the present study, it is suggested that the CI can be used as a useful marker in determining the effect ofchemo- or radio-therapy in NHL patients