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Article
August 1972

Leukemic Reticuloendotheliosis: The Role of Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase in Diagnosis and Splenectomy in Treatment

Author Affiliations

Boston; Brighton, Mass

From the Blood Research Laboratory, New England Medical Center Hospitals, and the Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston (Drs. Yam and Li), and the Department of Medicine, US Public Health Hospital, Brighton, Mass (Dr. Finkel). Dr. Yam is now at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, Calif.

Arch Intern Med. 1972;130(2):248-256. doi:10.1001/archinte.1972.03650020074014
Abstract

The diagnosis of leukemic reticuloendotheliosis may be made with certainty by the cytochemical demonstration of the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoenzyme in the reticuloendothelial cells. Supportive measures such as blood transfusions or antibiotic therapy are helpful in the treatment of this disease. Splenectomy is beneficial in cases with massive splenomegaly and hypersplenism. Four patients in this series so treated have survived for 1, 5, 10, and 14 years, respectively.

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