DETECTION OF MINIMAL RESIDUAL DISEASE IN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID OF ADULTS WITH ACUTE LEUKEMIA BY IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE ASSAY

To detect the minimal residual disease in cerebrospinal fluid of adults with acute leukemia and compare it with cytology examination.Methods The double color monoclonal antibodies of CD45 combined with other distinctive lineage antigens and FCM were used.Results 4 samples of the total 40 CSF specimens from 17 adult patients with acute leukemia in CR were discordance between the results of morphologic and immunologic examination ( approximately 10%). In discordant cases, the results of immunologic investigations appeared to be more informative than that of morphologic examination in predicting residual disease in CSF and diagnosis of CNSL.Conclusion We recommend that the method should be employed to achieve more timely and accurate diagnosis of CNSL in cases with acute leukemia especially when morphologic findings are equivocal.