[Adenosine deaminase activity in Hodgkin's disease (author's transl)].

The activity of adenosine deaminase (ADA) (EC3.5.4.4.) was determined in the blood plasma, erythrocytes, and lymphocytes of 23 patients with Hodgkin's disease and partly also in 99 control subjects. The enzyme activities were measured using adenosine as substrate and by analysis of ammonia. No correlation was found between the ADA activities in lymphocytes, erythrocytes, and blood plasma. The lymphocytes of the patients revealed lower ADA activities (U/g protein) than the lymphocytes of control subjects. The ADA activity is not reduced in plasma or erythrocytes. The lower activities of ADA in the lymphocytes of patients may be related to the impaired cell-mediated immunity of the Hodgkin's disease.