Plasmacytic cutaneous pathology: A review

We review the spectrum of cutaneous disorders associated with inflammatory and neoplastic plasmacytic pathology. Because plasma cells are derived from B‐lymphocytes our overview includes discussion of certain lymphoplasmacytic proliferations. It is structured along histopathological lines, addressing conditions characterized by (a) cutaneous plasma cell infiltrates, (b) deposits of plasma cell products or their derivatives in the skin and (c) miscellaneous, poorly understood cutaneous complications of plasmacytic disorders. Lesions arising primarily in the skin and those due to cutaneous involvement by multisystem disorders are addressed. The range includes a spectrum of tumefactive and circulatory manifestations. We highlight key clinical and pathological features of the different conditions and outline recent advances in our understanding of these entities. By emphasizing the dermatopathological characteristics of this spectrum of disorders we hope to hone the diagnostic accuracy of practitioners in the field.     

间接免疫荧光法检测特异性IgG抗体对流行性出血热诊断意义

本文报告用间接免疫荧光法检测特异性IgG抗体对流行性出血热的诊断意义。53例不同病期的出血热患者的血清,其间接荧光抗体的阳性率为49/53(占92.45％)。有77.36％的患者血清,检出IgG抗体的时间是在发病后的1～2周。血清中IgG的滴度与疾病的严重性无密切相关。另25例非EHF患者,其血清特异性IgG抗体均为阴性。可见检测特异性IgG抗体对EHF的诊断颇为有用。     

静脉注射大剂量人体丙种球蛋白对儿童重症病毒性脑炎预后的影响

①目的　探讨静脉注射大剂量人体丙种球蛋白 (IVIG)对儿童重症病毒性脑炎 (SVE)预后的影响。②方法　将 5 6例SVE病儿随机分为常规组 (n =2 2 ,给予抗病毒、降颅压、止惊、冬眠疗法、加压氧和糖皮质激素等常规治疗 )和IVIG组 (n =34,在常规治疗基础上尽量在 7d内给予IVIG ,剂量为每天 4 0 0～ 6 0 0mg/kg体质量 ,共2～ 3d) ,比较两组病儿治疗后的近期和远期预后 ,测定两组治疗前后血浆白细胞介素 6 (IL 6 )、肿瘤坏死因子 α(TNF α)水平并与对照组进行比较。③结果　与常规组比较 ,IVIG组治疗过程中呼吸衰竭、消化道出血、院内感染的发生率和病死率明显降低 (χ2 =6 .5 10～ 13.86 0 ,P <0 .0 5 ,0 .0 1) ;病后遗留脑性瘫痪者明显减少 (χ2 =4 .0 2 7,P <0 .0 5 ) ;病后 3,6 ,12个月IVIG组除瘫痪外 ,癫痫、脑影像学损害、脑电图和脑干听觉诱发电位异常者均明显减少 (χ2 =6 .4 5 1～ 4 5 .5 81,P <0 .0 5 ,0 .0 1) ;病后 6 ,12个月IVIG组的言语智商和总智商较常规组明显高 (t =2 .0 81～ 3.4 13,P <0 .0 5 ,0 .0 1)。IVIG组在病后 3,6个月时血浆IL 6 (15 .1,7.5ng/L)和TNF α(2 0 .4 ,11.8ng/L)水平较对照组 (4.2 ,8.5ng/L)明显升高 (z =- 3.337～ - 3.899,P <0 .0 1) ,但病后 12个月时血浆IL 6和TNF      

Basic principles of immunology (immune response) for hemapheresis practitioners

Advances in medical knowledge and technology have identified the essential elements involved in the human immune system, their relationships and interactions, and offer more advanced concepts in the design, function, and maintenance of immune response. Immune response begins with the earliest progenitor cell and transfers its legacy of protection through white blood cells and the complement system. A basic understanding of immunology is essential to the hemapheresis practitioner as new treatment regimens requiring hemapheresis interventions develop. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Empfehlungen für die Anwendung der Immunapherese bei der Therapie bullöser Autoimmundermatosen

The etiology of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is unknown. EBA may be associated with other autoim‐mune systemic diseases; it also has been described in connection with different malignant tumors, showing complete remission after successful treatment of the tumor.In such cases, EBA may be regarded as a paraneo‐plastic dermatosis. We detected a highly differentiated neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer in a 78‐year‐old woman with EBA. Even thought her tumor was completely removed and the patient has been disease‐free for over seven years, a complete regression of her autoimmune bullous dermatosis could not be induced. By using intravenous immunoglobulins in combination with mycophenolate mofetil, further blister formation could be ameliorated.     

Influence of impaired T- and B-cell compartments on efficacy of IVIg in dysimmune neuropathies

Autoimmune mechanisms are postulated to play a role in the development and progression of dysimmune neuropathies (DN). We investigated the relation between lymphocyte number and marker expression, and disease activity in 20 patients with DN under intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) treatment. B- and T-lymphocyte markers were studied by flow cytometry of the expression of CD5, CD25, CD23 and CD38 markers on B cells and of CD3, CD4 and CD8 markers, respectively. These parameters were compared with those obtained from matched healthy volunteers. The proportions of CD38+ B cells were higher in patients compared with those of controls. Proportions of activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were comparable in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients and controls, but a significant reduction of the absolute numbers of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells were observed in DN patients. The percentages of CD25+ memory T cells were instead significantly increased in DN patients. Lastly, T-cell reduction and the CD19/CD38 ratio over total B (CD19+) cells directly correlated with a poor response to IVIg therapy. In DN, whereas T-cell number is reduced, activated T and B cells are increased, thus suggesting an intrinsic defect of the immune response.     

Natural killer cell activity and serum immunoglobulins in epileptic patients

Serum immunoglobulins and the activity of natural killer (NK) cells of 50 epileptic patients (eight with idiopathic generalized epilepsy and 42 with cryptogenic partial epilepsy) and 28 controls have been studied. The values of IgA, IgG and IgM were the same-in patients and controls. The NK activity in controls was linearly related to the effector-to-target ratio, but this linear relationship was not observed in epileptic patients. The cytotoxic activity of NK cells at the lowest effector-to-target ratio was significantly greater in patients than in controls. This increase was observed in each therapy group. Our results seem to confirm a disturbance of the immune system in epileptic patients and suggest that this modification of cellular immunity is not a drug effect but is related to the illness itself.     

Dissociation of hepatitis A virus antigen-anti-HAV antibody complexes by 2-mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol

Intravenous inoculation of two marmosets and one chimpanzee with hepatitis A virus (HAV) resulted in the replication of virus in liver, excretion of HAV particles in stool, and the appearance of circulating antibodies specific for hepatitis A. The development of an early antibody response in the chimpanzee and in one of the two infected marmosets was shown to interfere with the serologic detection of HAV antigen (HAV Ag) in homogenates of acute phase liver tissue obtained from these animals. Treatment of HAV Ag-positive and IgM anti-HAV-positive liver homogenates with thiol reducing compounds was shown to release HAV Ag from in vitro formed immune complexes. The increased RIA response for HAV Ag in homogenates treated with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) or dithiothreitol (DTT) was further shown not to be due to activation of HAV Ag itself or to a nonspecific effect on the RIA coating antibody, radiolabeled probe, or homogenized liver tissue. IgG and IgM double-antibody sandwich RIAs for HAV Ag were also compared for their ability to detect HAV Ag under reducing and nonreducing conditions. Application of the 2-ME or DTT treatment procedure to the serologic detection of other viral antigens or viruses whose presence in blood, stool, tissue macerate, or other milieu may be masked by specific antibody appears to be feasible.     

Bound immunoglobulins of classes M,A, and G studied in the thymus of patients with myasthenia gravis

Deposits of granular material containing immunoglobulins (Ig) of the M, A, and G classes, were found by direct immunofluorescence in the thymus of patients with myasthenia. Treatment of sections of the thymus of myasthenic patients with unlabeled preparations against individual classes of human Ig inhibits the reaction of the granular material with homologous labeled preparations. Disappearance of fluorescence of the deposits also was observed in sections treated with glycine-HCl buffer, pH 2.8. These results suggest that the granular material consists of immune complexes in which IgM, IgA, and IgG act as antibodies and components of the thymus tissues as the antigen. The presence of bound Ig in the thymus is evidence that in myasthenia an autoimmune process directed against the tissues of this organ is involved.Laboratory of Streptococcal Infections, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. Professorial Surgical Department, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow Medical Institute. Laboratory of Clinical Pathophysiology, Institute of General and Pathological Physiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR M. I. Kuzin.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 6, pp. 709–712, June, 1978.     

A Follow-up Study of Immunoglobulin Levels and Autobodies in an Unselected Pregnant Population

PROBLEM: To obtain a systematic view of changes in the levels of immunoglobulins (Igs), other serum proteins, and autoantibodies during pregnancy and postpartum. METHOD: A series of 220 women were followed throughout pregnancy and four to six months postpartum. RESULTS: Immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration clearly decreased toward term. The concentrations of IgM and IgA decreased only slightly. In most instances autoantibody levels paralleled changes in the corresponding immunoglobulin class levels. In few cases, however, there were clear deviations from this. With respect to IgG class autoantibodies, the highest autoantibody levels were found in the postpartum specimen. IgM class autoantbody levels remained almost constant throughout the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: The intrapregnancy decrease of IgG is mainly due to hemodilution, but when the effect of hemodilution is taken into account, total amounts of IgM and IgA are increased. The results suggests that compared to IgG the regulatory mechanisms of IgM and IgA are altered during pregnancy.