Blood lymphocytes in acute lymphoid leukaemia in remission and in relapse. Predictive value of electrophoretic mobility and refringence.

Blood lymphocytes were studied during the evolution of acute lymphocytic leukaemia, including remissions and relapses, under chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Lymphoblasts migrate as a uniform population and have a mean electrophoretic mobility of 1.04 mum-sec-1. V-1cm. These lymphoblasts are also refringent. The relapse seems to be preceded by a slowing of the electrophoretic mobility of fast cells and a rise in the percentage of refringent lymphocytes.