Ultrastructural and cytochemical characteristics of monocytes in various types of acute leukemias.

We have examined ultrastructural and cytochemical characteristics of monocytes in lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients and compared them to monocytes in acute monoblastic leukemia (AMoL) patients and acute myeloid nonmonoblastic leukemias (AML), respectively. Blood samples were prepared in the standard way for ultrastructural and cytochemical (alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase and myeloperoxidase) analyses. Our results indicate that monocytes in ALL and acute phase AML have the same characteristics as the malignant ones in AMoL.

[Pseudothrombocytes in acute leukemias]. / Pseudotrombociti u akutnim leukemijama.

Pseudoplatelets are the cytoplasmic fragments in the size of platelets originated not from megakaryocytes but from other blood cells which were observed in some patients with leukemia and infection. The clinical importance of pseudoplatelets is manifested in the falsely increased number of platelets in these patients. Transmission electron microscopy was used in the cytologic examination of 23 patients with different types of acute leukemia. The presence of pseudoplatelets in the form of budding of the cytoplasm of the granulocytic, monocytic and lymphocytic strains of various maturity has been shown.