[Diagnostik significance of cell membrane markers in childhood ALL (author's transl)]

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in childhood is not a homogeneous disease. By membrane phenotyping 6 groups of ALL in 66 children could be differentiated: Group I (38%) common ALL (anti-cALL+. Group II (32%) common ALL with T cell marker in addition (anti-cALL+, anti-T+). Group III (14%) T. cell ALL with E-rosette marker (anti T+, E+). Group IV (9%) T cell ALL without E-rosette marker (anti T+, E-). Group V (6%) undifferentiated ALL (anti-cALL-, anti-T). Group VI (1%) B cell typ (SmIg+). 19 or 20% of children in groups I and II opposed to 67 or 100% of children in groups III and IV had a white cell count at diagnosis of greater than 25,0 x 10(3)/mm(3) Mediastinal involvement was typical for groups III and IV. No significant difference was found so far for age or sex in the groups.