Hereditary monocyte esterase deficiency

Abstract

Summary. An inherited cytochemical staining abnormality of monocytes is described, affecting members of three generations of one family. a‐Naphthyl acetate and a‐naphthyl butyrate esterase staining reactions have been consistently negative in 9 5% of the monocytes of the propositus and her son and in 60‐70% of the monocytes in two of four grandchildren. Observation of persistently esterase‐negative monocytes in a patient with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma led to us to investigate her family and we here report the findings.