Rhesus anti-D immunoglobulin in chronic autoimmune neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Rhesus anti-D immunoglobulin (anti-D) in patients with an autoimmune demyelinating neuropathy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three patients with an autoimmune mediated neuropathy received 1000 IU anti-D weekly for 2 months. RESULTS: Two patients worsened gradually during the treatment and 1 remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: Rhesus anti-D immunoglobulin has no beneficial effect in patients with autoimmune neuropathy.

Secondary retention of permanent molars: a report of five families.

The aetiopathogenesis of secondary retention is not fully understood, but heredity is involved in at least some cases. In this study first-degree relatives of 52 patients with secondary retention of permanent molars were screened for the presence of the same phenomenon in their dentition. Familial occurrence could be shown in five families. The pedigrees are compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance. HLA phenotypes and blood groups ABO, rhesus and P1 were studied in two families. The lod scores for linkage with secondary retention were added to previously reported information. The lod score for linkage for blood group system P increased from +0.940 to +1.475 at a recombination fraction of 5 per cent. It is concluded that secondary retention of permanent molars is an aetiologically heterogeneous condition in which some cases are caused by the presence of an abnormal autosomal dominant gene.

Erythrocyte antibody screening in solid-phase: a comparison of two solid-phase microplate assays with the indirect antiglobulin test in polyethylene glycol for the detection of irregular erythrocyte antibodies.

The screening of a serum for irregular erythrocyte antibodies in the indirect antiglobulin test is a well-established technique. We compared the test results of two different solid-phase microplate indirect antiglobulin tests with a liquid-phase indirect antiglobulin test in tubes. Antibody screening with both solid-phase microplate techniques proved to be more sensitive than the liquid-phase indirect antiglobulin test. In addition, a difference in sensitivity between the two solid-phase techniques was observed: prior immobilization of test erythrocytes on the microplate followed by incubation with a serum and detection of sensitization with antihuman IgG-coated detector cells gave better test results than secondary immobilization on the microplate of test erythrocytes sensitized with antibodies and an antihuman globulin serum.

Inefficacy of plasma exchange in cold agglutinin hemolytic anemia--a case study.

A therapeutic trial of plasma exchange was conducted in an 82-year-old woman with severe cold agglutinin hemolytic anemia, who was unresponsive to conventional treatment. In spite of considerable improvement of pertinent parameters (total IgM, cold agglutinin titer and thermal amplitude) this treatment failed to induce a clinical remission. This failure may be the result of the ability of the cold agglutinin to fix complement to the red cell membrane at temperatures much higher than the thermal amplitude. A simple laboratory test to detect this dissociation between complement fixing ability and agglutination activity is described.

Arabinogalactan Protein from a Crude Cell Organelle Fraction of Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Sonication of a crude cell organelle fraction from hypocotyl tissue of dark-grown bean seedlings, and from suspension-cultured cells released a hydroxyproline-containing protein. The purification of this protein is described. It was found to be an arabinogalactan protein composed of 90% carbohydrate and 10% protein. The major sugars are galactose, arabinose, and uronic acids, and the major amino acids are hydroxyproline, serine, and alanine. Its molecular weight was estimated at 1.4 x 10(5) daltons and the isoelectric point at pH 2.3. The molecule is soluble in 5% trichloroacetic acid and can be precipitated with beta-galactosyl Yariv antigen. Pulse-chase experiments indicated that it was a secretory protein. The biosynthesis of arabinogalactan proteins is discussed.