Serum ceruloplasmin as a marker in prostate cancer.

AIM: Serum acid phosphatase and prostate specific antigen have been utilized as disease markers in prostate cancer, one of the commonest cancers of the elderly. Serum ceruloplasmin (Cp) increases in cancer patients; it may be a reliable marker for prostate cancer, but few data are available on specificity and sensitivity of Cp values. METHODS: Serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) and Cp was determined in Greek patients suffering from histologically proven prostate carcinoma or benign hyperplasia. The results were compared with those in controls matched for sex and age. RESULTS: In all studied subjects with a prostate cancer, serum Cp values were higher than age-matched healthy controls; they were also higher in cases with benign hyperplasia. No difference in serum Cp was noted among patients with earlier and advanced stages of the tumor. No difference in Cp was also found between benign hyperplasia and normal controls. There exists a significant difference in serum PSA between both prostate cancer and benign hyperplasia cases. There exists also a difference between benign hyperplasia cases and controls. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that serum Cp may complement the biochemical screening in prostate carcinoma, especially in cases where this cancer is not accompanied by elevation of serum PSA. However, it is not of help in differentiating prostate cancer from prostate benign hyperplasia.

[Leucaemoid reaction due to cytomegalovirus infection in a new born infant (author's transl)]. / Maladie des inclusions cytomégaliques avec leucose aiguë transitoire chez un nouveau-né

A newborn infant with low birth weight, jaundice, petechiae of the skin and enlargement of spleen and liver is presented. His general condition was severe and progressive aggravation of it was noticed. Bilirubin levels was up to 44 mg/100 ml, most of it indirect and severe anaemia was present. Furthermore leucaemoid reaction of the white cells was developed. Inclusion bodies in the urine and increased title of complement fixation antibodies in the peripheral blood were detected. The diagnosis of cytomegalovirus disease was established. The patient, when he was forty days old, seemed to be fairly well, but mental retardation was noticed, which persisted at the fifth month of his age.