[Interferon production using the peripheral leukocytes of leukemic children]. / Obrazovanie interferona leikotsitami krovi detei bol'nykh leikozami.

Interferon production by blood leucocytes was investigated in 26 children with various types of leukemia (acute lymphoblastic, acute myeloblastic and the blastic crisis of chronic myelocytic leukemia). The control group consisted of 6 children with lymphoadenopathy. Interferon synthesis was decreased in most cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The persistent sharp reduction of interferon producing function of leucocytes is a factor of unfavourable prognosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia of children, being associated with a more severe course of the disease, increased susceptibility to viral infection, and with a higher risk of relapse. In two cases of chronic myelocytic leukemia the level of interferon production was equal to or even higher than in the control group. It is supposed that the estimation of interferon production by leucocytes can be used as an additional factor in the differential diagnostics of obscure cases of children leukemia.