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Blood samples from ten patients with clinically evident manifestations of atherosclerotic disease were used to evaluate in vitro the effects of exogenous glutathione (GSH) on platelet aggregation and on blood filtration and viscosity. In two groups, each of ten atherosclerotic patients, matched for sex, age, prevalent localization, duration and gravity of disease, the effects of GSH infusion (600 mg every day for seven days) on the haemocoagulative pattern, platelet aggregation and blood filtration and viscosity were evaluated in a double-blind, placebo cross-over trial. The GSH in vitro addition resulted in a significant increase in blood filtration and a significant decrease in blood viscosity and platelet aggregation. The venous GSH infusion both significantly decreased blood viscosity and increased blood filtration. Partial thromboplastin time was lengthened after GSH infusion even thought it remained in the normal range.

The case of a patient with an extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma and three M-components (IgGkappa + IgGlambda + IgMlambda) in the serum is described. Three separate populations of M-component producing cells have been identified. Since a kappa-->lambda chain switch is not demonstrated, the synthesis of IgGkappa and IgGlambda by two distinct clones is obvious. IgMlambda and IgGlambda M-components are synthesized by two different plasma cell populations that could represent two unrelated cell clones or, alternatively, two subclones originated by a common precursor. After chemotherapy the IgGlambda M-component is replaced by heavy gamma chains without evidence of lambda light chains.