The activity of adenosine deaminase was determined in lymphocytes, erythrocytes and blood plasma of 73 patients with different haematological malignancies and also in healthy control subjects. The enzyme activities were measured using adenosine as substrate and by analysis of released ammonia. Statistically significant decreased enzyme levels in lymphocytes and partial also in erythrocytes were observed in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, Hodgkin's disease and multiple myeloma. The lower activities of ADA of these patients may be related to the impaired immunological function. In contrast in myeloid leukaemia, blast crisis of myeloid leukaemia and in acute leukaemias significant increased ADA levels in lymphocytes or blast cells were observed. Between the content of blast cells in peripheral blood and ADA activity of the mononuclear cell fraction exists a positive correlation. The increased ADA values of blast cells are a sign of an elevated purine metabolism.