[Prevalence of hepatitis G virus infection (HGV) in intravenous immunoglobulin recipients in the Czech Republic]. / Výskyt infekce virem hepatitidy G (HGV) u pacientu lécených intravenózními imunoglobuliny v Ceské republice.

The prevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) in the serum of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) recipients was studied and risk related to HGV positivity was considered. Although its pathogenicity is unclear, HGV is likely to cause liver disease or lymphoproliferation. Twenty (23%) of 86 tested MG patients were HGV RNA positive. Of the HGV positive patients, three (15%) showed mild elevation of liver enzymes and one (5%) was diagnosed with chronic lymphatic leukaemia prior to the institution of MG replacement. It can be concluded that the HGV prevalence among IVIG recipients is high but is not associated with signs of either liver disease or lymphoproliferation.

[Hepatitis B vaccination in patients with chronic renal failure]. / Ockování proti virové hepatitide B u pacientu s chronickým renálním selháním.

In the submitted review the authors present basic information on immunization against viral hepatitis B (VHB) in patients with chronic renal failure. These patients have a significantly lower response to the vaccine against VHB, due in particular to secondary immunodeficiency. Possible correction of this adverse situation can be achieved by modification of the immunization pattern (type and dosage of vaccine, the period and early time of vaccination, route of administration) and adjuvant immunomodulating therapy.

[The role of immunology in monitoring the effects of environmental pollution]. / Prinos immunologie pro sledování vlivu kontaminace zivotního prostredí.

The paper gives a neat summary of experience acquired from two decades of immunological testing methods used for studying the effect of environmental contamination of the human organism. Immunological examination is part of a series of methods for a systematic follow-up of the state of health of the population. The paper underlines the complicated process leading to the resulting individual immune reactivity, which can be regarded as an outcome of multilateral interaction between the immune genetically conditioned potential and external environmental influences.

[Immunomodulation in the treatment of atopic dermatitis]. / Imunomodulace v lécbe atopické dermatitidy.

In the submitted review the authors present information on possibilities of immunomodulating treatment of atopic dermatitis. Immunosuppressive treatment comprises systemic corticosteroid administration (possibly combined with cytostatic immunosuppressive preparations), cyclosporin A and phototherapy. Immunopotentiating treatment of AD makes use mainly of modulating preparations with the nature of physiological substances close to the immune system, substances obtained from natural biological sources (thymic hormones) or in recent years more frequently substances of recombinant origin (interferons, interleukins). The use of immunopotentiating drugs of chemical origin (synthetic substances) is used less frequently in AD. The use of intravenous immunoglobulin preparations for severe forms of atopic dermatitis is only just starting.

[Takayasu's disease. Detection of the early systemic stage of the disease in a pregnant woman]. / Takayasuova choroba. Záchyt casné systémové fáze nemoci u tehotné zeny.

The authors describe the case of Takayasu's disease detected in the non-obliterating systemic stage. The disease developed in a 24-year-old woman in the 8th month of gestation and was associated with severe pain of the back and upper extremities, subfebrile temperatures, later fever and tachycardia. The authors describe the difficult diagnosis of the disease and discuss the relationship of the case with so-called fever of unknown aetiology and the development of the disease during pregnancy.

[Detection of Helicobacter pylori in the saliva of patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis]. / Prukaz Helicobacter pylori ve slinách nemocných s recidivující aftózní stomatitidou.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori participates significantly on the pathogeny of chronic gastritis, duodenal and gastric ulcer, carcinoma and lymphoma of the stomach. There are some more diseases requiring attention--for example cardiovascular, dermatologic, and autoimmune. METHODS AND RESULTS: Helicobacter pylori was detected in saliva and faeces of 28 persons by the Premier platinum HpSA diagnostic set. Levels of IgA and IgG antibodies were determined by EIA and Western Blott methods. Parameters of salivary immunity were investigated as well. Levels of IgG, SIgA, IgM, lysozyme and albumin were determined. Recommended therapy of Helicobacter infection led to an evident clinical improvement and descent of the documented Helicobacter pylori antigen. CONCLUSIONS: Helicobacter pylori infection can probably participate in some cases of relapsing aphtous stomatitis.

[X chromosome-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (Duncan's disease)]. / Na X chromosom vázaný lymfoproliferativní syndrom (Duncanova nemoc).

The authors describe two cases of fatal disease with the picture of acute haemoblastosis in male siblings aged 6 and 18 months. By combined retrospective evaluation of the two cases the authors reach the conclusion that it is the first case of an X chromosome-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP) described in Czechoslovakia. The authors discuss laboratory and clinical findings (dynamic of specific antibodies against EBV, histopathological finding, clinical evaluation, hypergammaglobulinaemia IgM, paraprotein IgM, genetic examination) and evaluate the disease as the proliferative form of XLP in the clinical variant of fatal infectious mononucleosis. The paper provides also some basic information on XLP, incl. some new findings.

[Intradermal method of vaccination with a human diploid cell tissue culture vaccine for preexposure antirabies immunization]. / Intradermální zpusob ockování vakcínou z tkánové kultury lidských diploidních bunek v preexpozicní antirabické imunizaci.

The authors provide evidence of seroconversion in 16 subjects (100%) following intradermal administration of antirabies vaccine from a tissue culture of human diploid cells [Rabivac, Behring, FRG] for the purpose of pre-exposure immunization. The immunomodulating preparation Levamisol [Decaris Richter, Hungary] did not influence the mean antibody titre during administration by the intradermal route.

[What is next in antirabies immunization?]. / Jak dále v antirabické imunizaci?

The authors compare the geometrical means of titres of specific antirabic antibodies in a group of subjects immunized by the intradermal route with vaccine from a tissue culture of human diploid cell (Rabivac Behring, FRG) and in groups of subjects immunized by the subcutaneous route with the vaccine Vnukovo SAD-32 (USSR), using a short and long immunization pattern resp. The group with intradermal administration had higher geometrical mean values of antibody titres than the age-matched group immunized by the subcutaneous vaccine Vnukovo. The low mean titres and incidence of zero values of antirabic antibodies in age groups above 50 years is alarming.

[The first case of leukocyte integrin deficiency syndrome in the Czech Republic and successful prenatal diagnosis in the affected family]. / První prípad syndromu deficience leukocytárních integrinu v ceské republice a úspesná prenatální diagnostika v postizené rodine.

The syndrome of leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD) is a rare congenital immunodeficiency which is usually manifested from birth by serious infections of the skin and mucosal membranes. The molecular basis of the disease is heterogeneous: quantitative or qualitative disorders of the beta 2 integrin sub-unit are involved which lead to the absence or substantially reduced expression of adhesive molecules of the CD11/CD18 complex on leukocytes. The authors describe the case of a boy who suffered from this syndrome. The diagnosis was established at the age of four years, based on the typical clinical picture and confirmed by examination of integrins on lymphocytes and granulocytes which were zero. During the mother's subsequent pregnancy prenatal diagnosis was made by puncture of the umbilical cord during the 22nd week of gestation. Affection of the foetus by this syndrome was ruled out by examination of integrin expression on foetal leukocytes, a normal finding was confirmed also after delivery. During delivery umbilical blood was collected which was frozen and later used for therapeutic transplantation to the sibling suffering from LAD. This is the first case of this syndrome in the Czech Republic and first prenatal diagnosis which led to aimed collection of umbilical blood used for treatment of this rare immunodeficiency.

[Steroid glaucoma in severe atopic keratoconjunctivitis. A reminder for possible therapy with plasmapheresis]. / Steroidní glaukom pri tezké atopické keratokonjunktivitidé. Upozornení na moznost lécby plazmaferézou.

In 1989 in the authors' hospital four plasmaphereses were performed in a patient treated with steroids on account of severe atopic keratoconjunctivitis with suspicion of hyperimmunoglobulinaemia IgE. As a result of treatment of the basic disease the patient developed steroid glaucoma. The authors recommended as alternative treatment plasmapheresis in order to discontinue corticoid therapy. Three months after the fourth plasmapheresis the intraocular tension improved and is still within a normal range.

[Antibodies to Campylobacter jejuni in patients with acute enteritis]. / Protilátky proti Campylobater jejuni u nemocných s akutní enteritidou.

In 233 patients with acute diarrhoea in paired sera Campylobacter antibodies classes IgG and IgA were assessed by the ELISA method. As antigen the external membrane protein of the strain Campylobacter jejuni was used. Raised IgG levels (greater than 50 u.) and/or IgA (greater than 80 u.) were found in 15% of all examined patients. A quadruple increase of values in one or both classes was recorded in 12.4% of the patients. The incidence of antibodies against Campylobacter jejuni provides evidence that this infectious agent is frequent in this country. Antibodies class IgA suggest by their dynamics acute contact with the Campylobacter antigen. On the other hand, IgG antibodies are not of major importance in newly diagnosed disease.