[Diagnostic value of 4 biological markers: lactate dehydrogenase, phosphoglucoisomerase, carcinoembryonic antigen and gammaglutamyl transpeptidase, systematically determined in patients in a hematology-oncology department]. / Intérêt diagnostique de quatre marqueurs biologiques: la lacticodéshydrogénase, la phosphogluco-isomérase, l'antigène carcino-embryonnaire et la gammaglutamyl-transpeptidase dosés systématiquement chez les malades d'un service d'hématologie-oncologie.

This article is concerned with a prospective study about the systematical, simultaneous and comparative assay of four biological markers (carcino-embryonic antigen, lactate dehydrogenase, gammaglutamyl transferase and phosphohexose isomerase). This study was conducted in a department of Hematology and oncology on 258 patients. The dosage of each marker separately does not appear to be of diagnostical interest because of a lack of sensibility and specificity. But when there is a positive statistical correlation between several makers, their simultaneous dosage may allow the diagnostic of cancer and sometimes the determination of its origin.

[Factor X deficiency and systemic amylosis]. / Déficit en facteur X et amylose systémique.

The case of a 52-year-old patient with systemic amylosis diagnosed upon examination of an osteomedullary biopsy specimen is reported. The most prominent clinical manifestation was a major hemorrhagic syndrome which was recognized as being a result of severe factor Stuart deficiency. The new classification of amyloses based on the latest biochemical and immunological findings is recalled. Current physiopathogenic speculations put emphasis on plasmocyte-macrophage cooperation. Lastly, factor Stuart deficiency, which is as classical as it is uncommon, could originate in the particular affinity of amyloid fibers for this factor and in a "mass effect" (quantity of amyloid substance directly exposed to blood flow), explaining why splenectomy is effective in some instances.