The content of erythrocyte 2,3 diphosphoglycerate and adenosine-5'-triphosphate in myelomatosis and leukaemia.

Ery-DPG and thus the oxygen-releasing capacity of haemoglobin increases in meylomatosis and in chronic myelocytic and lymphocytic leukaemia at decreased concentrations of haemoglobin, to the same extent as in other types of anaemia. Consequently the need for blood transfusions is less than assumed in these disorders. Ery-ATP is considerably increased in chronic myelocytic leukaemia, the values correlating positively with the 'activity' of the disease. This finding can probably be used for diagnostic and prognostic purposes.