Abstract
Histochemical observations of plasma cells and lymphoid cells were carried out the bone marrow smears from 39 patients with non-hematological disorders, polyclonal gammopathies of various causes, multiple myeloma, and macroglobulinemia Waldenstrom. The techniques applied were: May-Giemsa, peroxidase, PAS, black B, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, β-glucuronidase, nonspecific esterase, LDH, SDH and GDH stainings.
Plasma cells showed intense staining reactions to acid phosphatase, β-glucuronidase and non-specific esterase, but lacked peroxidase, sudan black B and alkaline phosphatase reactions. LDH, SDH and GDH were positive. PAS reaction was diffusely and weakly positive or negative.
Plasma cells of multiple myeloma disclosed more intense acid phosphatase activity than those of polyclonal gammopathies. There was no difference in acid phosphatase activity of plasma cells among γG, γA, γD and Bence-Jones myeloma. The relationship between this enzyme activity of plasma cells serum paraprotein concentration could not be clarified.
The lymphoid cells of macroglobulinemia Waldenstrom were negative for peroxidase, sudan black B, alkaline phosphatase, and ASD-chloroacetate esterase.A considerable variability was found in PAS reaction: from intense granular positive to negative reaction. Except for a case of moderately intense phosphatase and β-glucuronidase activities, no difference in histochemical reactions was found from normal lymphocytes.
