Flow cytometry versus histamine release analysis of in vitro basophil degranulation in allergy to Hymenoptera venom.

BACKGROUND: Flow cytometry (FCM) has been proposed for specific allergy in vitro testing. We investigated its biological significance for allergy to Hymenoptera venoms and compared it with the routinely performed basophil histamine release test (HRT). METHODS: Blood samples from 26 allergic and 8 nonallergic donors were incubated with venom at serial concentrations. Basophils were analyzed with anti-CD45-PE-Cyanin 5, Anti-IgE-FITC, and Anti-CD63-Phycoerythrine. HRT was measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: FCM was as convenient as HRT for measuring basophil reactivity in at least 87% of allergic and 75% of nonallergic subjects. CD63 outer expression was specifically induced in 91% of releaser subjects (86% on HRT) and in 1 of 10 tests in nonallergic donors, or one of six tests (16% on HRT) in allergic patients tested with an irrelevant allergen. Both methods were concordant in 85.7% of the tests. The three discordant patients had low-grade reactions and borderline biological responses on FCM (n = 2) or HRT (n = 1). CONCLUSIONS: The dynamic, physiologic significance of CD63, the dose-response curve, and dependency on ethylene-diaminetetra acetic acid suggested that both tests reflect the same mechanism.

[Fetal alcohol syndrome]. / Le syndrome d'alcoolisme foetal ou SAF.

Fetal alcohol syndrome is frequently observed. It is estimated that 0.2% of newborns in France have fetal alcohol syndrome, a rate which reaches 1% in certain studies. Ultrasound diagnosis is straightforward, based on: - intrauterine growth retardation, predominantly involving the limbs and occurring early without oligoamnios; - specific facial dysmorphism with two essential signs, frontal rounding of the philtrum, suppression of the Cupidon arch; - several malformations involving the corpus callosum, ocular and renal tissue; - markedly higher incidence in multiple parity women over thirty who gain little weight during pregnancy. We report seven cases observed between 1994 and 1999 and discuss the growth curve and the facial dysmorphism.

[Recurrence of common truncus arteriosus. Prenatal diagnosis of a case report]. / Récurrence de tronc artériel commun. A propos d'un cas de diagnostic anténatal.

We report a case of isolated truncus arteriosis diagnosed prenatally which recurred during a subsequent pregnancy. This observation would suggest an increased risk of recurrent single trunk malformation as compared with other congenital heart diseases, in agreement with our understanding of the genetic processes involved. A prenatal screening can be achieved with a systematic examination of the fetal morphology. Prognosis is severe and prenatal diagnosis is difficult.

[Tracheal agenesis]. / Agénésie trachéale.

A case of tracheal agenesis is reported. At present, this lethal and rare malformation cannot be recognized before birth. Circumstances of the pregnancy and the stages leading to the diagnosis at birth are reported. Autopsy allows to classify the type of malformation and to search for others malformations, as seen in the VATER syndrome. A tracheo-oesophageal fistula is always present. The mechanism is unknown and there is no chromosomal anomaly. Fifty cases have been published in literature.