Immune abnormalities in myelodysplastic syndromes

The immune states of 52 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes classified according to the FAB criteria were studied. Serum electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis, direct Coombs test, and tests for organ and non-organ specific antibodies were performed. Twenty six patients had immunoglobulin abnormalities: six (11.5%) had monoclonal gammopathy; 17 (32.6%) had polyclonal increases in serum immunoglobulin; while in three (5.8%) immunoglobulin concentrations were decreased. The distribution of immunoglobulin abnormalities among the five myelodysplastic syndrome subtypes was fairly uniform. Results of direct Coombs test were negative in all cases. Organ specific antibodies were not detected in any of the patients tested, although two patients were found positive for antinuclear antibodies. The presence of immunoglobulin abnormalities indicates an involvement of the lymphoplasmatic system in myelodysplastic syndromes.     

Haematological aspects of hypophyseal tumours

Summary This paper is devoted to the study of anaemia in patients with hypophyseal tumours. Anaemia with a red blood cell count of 2.4 million/mm³ to 3.9 million/ mm³ was found in 60 of 280 patients (21.7%) with hypophyseal tumours; 52 of the 60 patients were operated on. Similar changes were observed in 25 of 60 cases (41.7%) of craniopharyngioma. Apart from anaemia and a low haemoglobin some of the patients also had anisocytosis, anisochromia, leucocytosis, and haemolytic shock.     

Primary haematomas of the brain stem

Summary Two cases of primary haematoma of the brain stem are reported. By combining them with the previous cases in the literature it is shown that an early diagnosis can be established, mainly on clinical grounds. The differential diagnosis and treatment are discussed.     

Spinal dissemination following operation on cerebral oligodendroglioma

Summary This paper concerns two cases of cerebral oligodendroglioma (intraventricular in one case, right temporal in the other), with spinal dissemination (cervical and upper thoracic respectively), manifested clinically 2 years and 14 months respectively after removal of the cerebral tumour. Anatomical examination confirmed the diagnosis of disseminated oligodendroglioma in the leptomeninges in both cases and also in the parenchyma in the second case.