[Vitamin D profile in Moroccan lupus patients]

Our objective was to determine the vitamin D profile in Moroccan lupus patients. This is a retrospective study performed in the immunology laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, concerning 84 patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus confirmed by the revised criteria of American College of Rheumatology. 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25 [OH] D] was assayed by an enzyme immunoassay [ELISA]. Status of vitamin D sufficiency is defined by a serum concentration of 25 [OH] D beyond 30ng/ml. After studying the clinical records of patients, an evaluation based on both of the vitamin D status and the associated systemic involvement was performed. The mean age of patients was 34.2 +/- 9.1 years, with extremes of 14 and 69, 85% of patients were female [sex ratio: 0.18]. The mean serum 25 [OH] D is 24ng/ml with a rate of 28 +/- 8.3 ng/ml in women, and 15 +/- 7.4 ng / ml in men. 67.7% of patients are vitamin D insufficient, and 15.1% are deficient. The lowest concentrations of 25 [OH] D were obtained in patients with glomerular disease with an average of 11ng / ml. Low levels of vitamin D should be common among Moroccan lupus patients. Studies in this direction are needed to confirm our results and to better understand the role of vitamin D in the prevention and the treatment of SLE and autoimmune diseases in general

[Flow cytometry in hematological malignancy: steps and interpretation]

Flow cytometry is a cell analysis technique, after labelling with fluorochromes. It has become a useful tool for analyzing the phenotype of hematopoietic and immune system cells. Its usefulness is increasingly evidenced in the diagnosis and monitoring of haematological malignancies. It is a highly advanced technology, but still remains poorly standardized. It requires a well trained and experienced staff enough, because it may be subject to multiple sources of error which may appear at pre-analytical or analytical steps, or due to graphical acquisition problems. The interpretation of flow cytometry results is difficult and should always be attached to the clinical and biological context. The objective of this article is to present some fundamental aspects of flow cytometry technique and the main practical stages of its use in haematology through a systematic search of reference books, latest reports of expert societies and recent publications on this topic