FACS analysis of peritoneal lymphocytes in ovarian cancer and control patients.

In this study different lymphocyte populations in the malignant ascites of 10 patients with ovarian carcinoma and in the peritoneal fluid of 8 control patients (tubal ligation and benign conditions) were analyzed. A panel of monoclonal antibodies against the CD markers of lymphocytes was used to stain different populations and the cells were analyzed on a FACS II (fluorescence-activated cell sorter). The mean percentage of B lymphocytes in the peritoneal cavity of the OVCA patients was 0.18 +/- 0.5% and in the control patients 0.05 +/- 0.07%. There was no significant difference between the two groups. In the OVCA group and in the controls the percentage of T lymphocytes (CD5+) was 23.5% and 17.1% respectively with no significant difference between the groups. These results indicate that B lymphocytes are not present in the human peritoneal cavity. The small numbers of B cells found in this study could be due to contamination with peripheral blood. The human peritoneal cavity contains a cell population which differs from that present in peripheral blood. Significant numbers of B lymphocytes have been reported in the peritoneal cavity of mice. The difference between the lymphocyte population of the human peritoneal cavity and that of rodents implies that data on characterization and function of B lymphocytes in the mouse peritoneal cavity would not be applicable to humans.

Survival of children in Cape Town known to be vertically infected with HIV-1.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the survival patterns of children in Cape Town known to be vertically infected with HIV. DESIGN: Retrospective record review of children diagnosed with symptomatic HIV infection during the period 1 December 1990-31 May 1995. SETTING: Hospitals in the Cape Town metropolitan area. PATIENTS: 193 children were known to be vertically HIV-infected. HIV diagnosis was based on the following criteria: two positive HIV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in children older than 15 months and a positive ELISA together with a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in younger children. The mothers of the children were known to be HIV-positive. On the basis of the presenting clinical findings children were assigned to a disease severity category (A, B or C) according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s 1994 revised classification system for HIV infection in children. OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival was analysed according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Survival time was defined as the length of time between clinical diagnosis of HIV and death or last contact with the health services. Mortality risk in relation to specific variables at diagnosis such as age and clinical manifestations was determined by calculation of odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 5 months; 72% of children were aged less than 1 year at diagnosis. According to the CDC clinical classification, 47 (24%) fell into category A, 111 (58%) into category B and 35 (18%) into category C. Of the 193 patients 85 (44%) were alive at the time of review, 65 (34%) had died and 43 (22%) were lost to follow-up. Risk of death was significantly associated with age less than 6 months (OR 4.7, CI 2.1-10.3) and severe disease, i.e. CDC category C (OR 2.7; CI 1.1-6.9) at time of diagnosis. The median survival for all the children from time of diagnosis was 32 months. Infants diagnosed before 6 months of age had significantly shorter median survival (10 months) compared with 36 months for those diagnosed at 7-12 months of age. For the children over the age of 12 months the cumulative proportion surviving at 48 months was 78%. Children with severe disease (category C) had a median survival of 21 months, significantly lower than that in category B (32 months). For the children in category A the cumulative proportion surviving at 48 months was 66%. CONCLUSION: The median survival of children with HIV was 32 months from time of diagnosis, and survival was influenced by age and disease severity.