Seronegative blood products prevent primary cytomegalovirus infection after bone marrow transplantation.

Seventy one patients underwent bone marrow transplantation for aplastic anaemia or haematological malignancy, 39 as allografts and 32 as autografts. All patients who were seronegative to cytomegalovirus received blood product support exclusively from seronegative community blood donors; seropositive patients received unscreened products. In no patients was there any attempt to reduce cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection by giving prophylaxis with immunoglobulin, and granulocyte transfusions were not given. The incidence of cytomegalovirus infection in the seronegative recipients (22 allograft, 15 autograft) was 0%; in the seropositive recipients 16 (63%) in allografts and 17 (18%) in autografts. These results suggest that provision of exclusively seronegative blood products is an important contribution for seronegative transplant recipients, but make little impact in autologous transplantation where the incidence of infection is low.

HIV testing in Glasgow Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinics 1985-1987.

Between 1 March 1985 and 28 February 1987, 1659 patients attending Glasgow Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) Clinics were tested for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Forty (2.4%) were positive. Thirty-seven of these were homosexual (36/37) or bisexual (1/37) males. The overall prevalence of antibodies to HIV in this group was 3.9% (37/940) and showed no significant increase over the two year period. Following the extensive media campaign in October 1986, the total numbers tested each month rose from an average of around 50, to 144 in December 1986. There was a further rise to 220 in March 1987 coinciding with AIDS week in March 1987. Since then the numbers have again declined. Before the October campaign, 70% of these tested (692/990) were homo/bisexual males. After the campaign the number of heterosexual males and females rose sharply, accounting for 68% of these tested.

Erythromycin stearate in treating chlamydial infection of the cervix.

A total of 157 women attending departments of genitourinary medicine were treated for chlamydial infection of the cervix with erythromycin stearate 500 mg twice a day. Chlamydiae were eradicated from the cervix in 64/80 women treated for seven days and in 51/77 women treated for 14 days. In 12 of those treated for seven days and 15 of those treated for 14 days, reinfection was the probable cause of reisolation after treatment. The possibility of latent infection with Chlamydia trachomatis could not be excluded in five women, but was not more likely to occur with the shorter treatment course. Erythromycin stearate 500 mg twice daily for seven days appears to be an effective regimen for the treatment of uncomplicated chlamydial infection of the cervix.

Serologic titres to micro-organisms in systemic lupus erythematosus: a family study.

Serologic titres were measured to a number of micro-organisms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, their consanguineous and nonconsanguineous relatives and a group of control subjects. There was no significant difference in titres observed for any of the organisms in the different subject groups. The significance of these results is discussed. Despite the negative results, an infective aetiology for systemic lupus erythematosus remains a viable hypothesis.

Histocompatibility types and antiviral antibodies in a diverse group of individuals.

A study was made of the possible relationship between histocompatibility (HLA) antigens of the A and B loci and antibodies to cytomegalovirus, influenza A (victoria strain), measles, rotavirus, vaccinia, and varicella/zoster. A large and diverse group of unselected individuals was studied. A possible relationship was detected between the presence of the antigen B15 and a lack of circulating measles antibodies. The study group was divided into three sections: (a) healthy individuals, (b) "renal disease" patients awaiting renal transplantation, and (c) patients with various types of "other disease," mainly of an immunological nature. Significantly elevated titers to cytomegalovirus and varicella/zoster were found in the two diseased groups, but these elevated titers could not be linked with the presence or absence of any particular HLA A or B antigen.

Chlamydial infection in homosexual men. Frequency of isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis from the urethra, ano-rectum, and pharynx.

Urethral, rectal, and pharyngeal material from 150 men who had had exclusively homosexual contact and who consecutively attended a sexually transmitted diseases clinic was cultured for Chlamydia trachomatis. The organism was isolated from at least one site in 15 (105) patients. The isolation rates from the urethra, rectum, and pharynx were 6 . 7%, 4%, and 1 . 3% respectively.

Rapid random-donor screening for the selection of viral antibody-containing blood donations.

We describe a 3 1/2 year trial in which we used immunofluorescence to detect and titrate antibody to six common viruses in normal healthy blood donors drawn at random from West and South East Scotland. The trial was designed to allow selection of blood donations rich in specific antiviral antibody for inclusion in the plasma pool which would, in turn, be used for the preparation of specific antiviral immunoglobulin. The results show the natural frequency of occurrence of antibody to different viruses in healthy adult blood donors.

Endocarditis as a manifestation of Chlamydia B infection (psittacosis).

A case of Chlamydia B (psittacosis) endocarditis is described in a patient with no known previous valve disease. After mitral valve replacement a fall in Chlamydia B antibody titre occurred. At repeat mitral valve replacement five months later for a paravalve leak no evidence of continuing endocarditis was present. Direct confirmation of infection in the patient's apparently healthy budgerigar was obtained. Aspects of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment are discussed.

Coxsackie and mumpsvirus infection in a prospective study of acute pancreatitis.

A prospective study of 116 patients with acute pancreatitis included routine screening for evidence of viral infection. Five patients (all female) exhibited significant rising antibody titres to Coxsackie B or mumpsvirus, while none of the remaining 111 patients did. Diarrhoea was a prodromal feature of the pancreatitis in those patients with evidence of viral disease. Screening patients with acute pancreatitis for Coxsackie B and mumpsvirus infections is worthwhile in the identification of aetiological factors and may minimise protracted biliary investigations. The incidence of "idiopathic" acute pancreatitis in this study was 5-2% (six patients).