Polyamine compartmentalization in various human disease states.

Whole blood was separated into preparations of erythrocytes, mononuclear leukocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, platelets and plasma. Each preparation was analyzed for the concentration of the polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine. This was done in 17 controls, 14 patients with psoriasis, four patients with hereditary elliptocytosis, two patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and one patient each with lung cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, sickle cell anemia with mild psoriasis, and progeria. In patients with elevated blood polyamine levels, absorption onto erythrocytes was relatively common, and the spermine/spermidine ratio was useful in localizing abnormalities and characterizing the nature of the polyamine alteration. Proliferative states were associated with elevated spermine/spermidine ratios relative to controls while this relationship was reversed in erythropathies such as hereditary elliptocytosis and sickle cell anemia.