Quantitative estimation of interferon-gamma levels among Egyptian polytransfused haematology cases

This study was designed to estimate interferon-gamma [INF-gamma] levels among polytransfused haematology cases. Cases were selected from the haematology unit of Alexandria main university hospital, Egypt. Complete blood counts, estimation of INF-gamma and hepatitis B and C virus [HBV and HCV] status were conducted on 20 unsplenectomized patients with thalassaemia major and 20 patients with acute myeloid leukaemia [AML] in the maintenance phase and 20 healthy subjects. Mean haemoglobin levels and red blood cell counts were significantly higher in the control group than the AML and thalassaemia groups, while white blood cell counts were significantly lower in the control group than the case groups. Two AML patients [10%] and 1 thalassaemia patient [5%] were HBV-positive, while 5% of both case groups were HCV-positive. Mean values of INF-? were significantly different between AML, thalassaemia major and control groups: 5517 [SD 1142] pg/mL, 1024 [SD 249] pg/mL and 2980 [SD 604] pg/mL respectively

Interleukins 12 and 13 levels among beta-thalassaemia major patients

The role of inflammatory cytokines in the pathophysiology of beta-thalassaemia is still unclear. In this study production levels of interleukins [IL]-12 and IL-13 were measured by commercial ELISA in cultureI supernatants of mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 30 non-splenectomized beta-thalassaemia cases with iron overload and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. IL-12 levels were significantly lower among cases compared with controls [91.4 pg/mL versus 154.6 pg/mL] while IL-13 levels were significantly higher [42.5 pg/mLversus 5.7 pg/mL]. There was a significant negative correlation between IL-12 and IL-13 levels among beta-thalassaemia cases [r= -0.42]. Patients with beta-thalassaemia alone had higher IL-12 levels than beta-thalassaemia patients who were seropositive for chronic hepatitis B or C virus Infection [140 pg/mL versus 50 pg/mL]; IL-13 levels were slightly lower [65 pg/mL versus 67 pg/mL]. An imbalance In the IL-12/IL-13 axis may be relevant to the pathophysiology of beta-thalassaemia

Study of host immunity in patients with Helicobacter pylori-related idiopathic thrombocytopenia

To test the role of T helper cell Th1 immunity we recruited 24 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenia associated with H. pylori seropositivity. They were divided into 2 groups: 12 with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia [Group 1] and 12 with non-immune mediated thrombocytopenia [Group 2]. We also recruited 10 individuals seronegative for H. pylori [Group 3] as controls. Initial platelet count was significantly lower in Group 1 than Group 2. H. pyloriwas eradicated in 10 of 12 patients in Group 1 and in all patients in Group 2. Transient improvement [< 3 months] in the platelet count occurred in only 2 patients in Group 1 while improvement for > 6 months was observed in all patients in Group 2. There was a statistically significant direct correlation between platelet count and levels of TNF- and IFN-gamma in both study groups, while a non-significant correlation was seen in Group 3. Thus, H. pyloriinfection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all cases of thrombocytopenia, and should be eradicated in all H. pylori-positive patients with thrombocytopenia