[Therapeutic use of human immunoglobulin]. / Terapijska primena humanih imunoglobulina.

Human immune globulin administered intramuscularly has been used for more than 40 years. In the last decade intravenous preparations were developed. They do not aggregate and contain IgG molecules with intact recognition and effector functions. These compounds are safe and only minor side effects were reported even when high doses were given. The mechanism by which intravenous gammaglobulin exacts its function is a combination of the Fc receptor blockade in the reticuloendothelial system, a marked increase in the suppressor cell function with down regulation of the antibody production and an intervention in the idiotype-antiidiotype network. Human immune globulin is an important therapeutic tool not only in the antibody deficiency, but also as an immunomodulatory agent in autoimmune disorders.

[Hairy-leukocyte leukemia (tricholeukocyte). Report of a case]. / Leukemija valsastih leukocita (triholeukocita). Povodom jednog slucaja

A case of a woman suffering of hairy cells leukemia (tricholeucocytes) is described. The diagnosis of this leukemia was set two years after a splemectomy, due to the enlargement of the spleen. The patient was treated for a period of two years as a refractory anaemia and leucopenia (neutropenia). After admission the diagnosis was confirmed by the examination of periferal blood, cytologic and histologic examination of the bone marrow and after a subsequent examination of the spleen tissue. All these examinations showed the presence of typical hairy cells--tricholeucocytes in the periferal blood, bone marrow and spleen. On account of their own cytochemical examinations, and especialy immunological examinations by other authors, the authors of this presentation suppose that the tricholeucocytes most probably belong to B lymphocytes and that, therefore, this leukemia should be placed in the group of malignant lymphocytoproliferative diseases.