The content of unbound polyamines in blood plasma and leukocytes of patients with polycythemia vera.

In the blood plasma and isolated leukocytes of 11 patients with polycythemia vera and 3 healthy subjects, the polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine were determined. The average values in the leukocytes of the healthy volunteers were found to be 1.8 +/- 1.4 nmol putrescine/10(8) cells, 3.0 +/- 0.9 nmol spermidine/10(8) cells and 12.9 +/- 3.8 nmol spermine/10(8) cells. In the plasma of healthy persons the amounts of the polyamines were below the sensitivity level of the method employed. In 4 patients with polycythemia vera no polyamines were detected. In contrast, in 7 cases 0.1 to 3 nmol polyamines/ml were found. The level of polyamines in the leukocytes of 6 of these patients was decreased and in one patient corresponded to the values found in the normal range (17.7 +/- 6.0 nmol polyamines/10(8) cells). Continued blood-letting therapy on 3 patients led to values approaching the concentrations found in normal subjects in both blood plasma and leukocytes. A decreased amount of these diamines in the leukocytes of the patients was seen to correlate with an elevated concentration in the plasma.