Evaluation of serumic beta-2 microglobulin in HBsAg+ HBV DNA PCR+ and HBsAg+ HBV DNA PCR- subjects: as HBV replication marker

Beta-2 microglobulin [beta2MG] is the light chain of Histocompatibility-Class I human antigen and its normal range is <3mg/ml. beta2MG level in sera of hepatitis B patients increases. In Hepatitis infection the presentation of the viral antigen on the hepatocyte in the presence of Class I HLA antigen plays a major role in the elimination of the virus. In this descriptive study, s beta2MG, HBsAg [by ELISA], and HBV DNA [by PCR] were evaluated in sera of49 patients with hepatitis B and 35 subjects in control group. Our results showed HbsAg was positive in all patients. 29 of patients were HBV-DNA-PCR positive and 20 HBV-DNA-PCR negative.beta2MG in all subjects in control group was in normal range and in 34.7% of patients above normal limit. beta2MG in HBV-DNA-PCR positive patients was higher than HBV DNA PCR negative patients. Such differences were significant [p <0.05]. It seems S beta2MG is a good marker for HBV replication and its absence may exclude HBV replication. The role of beta2MG in monitoring response to therapy needs to be further evaluated

Detection of serologic prevalence of anti-CMV antibodies in thalassemia major patients and blood donors

Cytomegalovirus [CMV] infection has been recognized as a complication of blood transfusion. Transfusion-related CMV infection produces dramatic problems in immunocompromised patients including organ transplantation recipients, AIDS patients under immunosuppressive therapy, thalassemia major patients, and premature neonates. Regarding the importance of this infection in multitransfused patients and differences in prevalence of transfusion - related CMV infection in various reports, especially in thalassemia major patients, we decided to detect and compare the prevalence of CMV antibodies in thalassemia patients and blood donors. In this study we detected anti-CMV antibodies [IgGJgM] by Elisa technique. We tested these antibodies in 55 thalassemia major patients [45 non-splenectomized and 10 splenectomized] and 1040 healthy donors. Our results showed that anti-CMV IgG antibody was positive in 89.6% of control group and 100% of thalassamic group, thus indicating of no significant difference in these two groups. Anti-CMV IgM antibody was positive in 0.04% of control group and in 9.1% of thalassemic group showing a significant difference. The prevalence of this antibody was respectively 30% and 4.5% in splenectomized and non-splenectomized groups of patients Absence of significant difference of anti-CMV IgM antibody in patient and control group reflected high frequency of this infection in our population and also the importance of the use of leukocyte free products for high risk blood recipients. Moreover, the significant difference in anti-CMV IgM antibody in splenectomized and non-splenectomized patient groups is related to the role of spleen in clearance of infectious agents and production of IgM antibody in this organ

Comparison of prevalence of anti-CMV antibodies [IgM and IgG] and CMV Ag in renal transplant recipients

Human cytomegalovirus [HCMV] is a DNA virus, approximately 200nm in diameter, belonging to the herpes virus family. CMV infection in immunocompromised patients including organ transplantation recipients, patients with AIDS patients under immunosuppressive therapy, and in developing fetus may result in either localized or disseminated diseases. Patients are at both primary CMV infection and reactivation of latent infection CMV can be transmitted through blood transfusion and organ transplantation. In this descriptive study, 62 recipients of kidney transplant [26 females, 41.9% and 36 male, 58.1%] ranging from 2-58 years of age [mean 34 +/- 15] were analysed to detect CMV antibodies by ELISA technique; CMV antigen was also evaluated by Indirect Immunofluorescence Technique. All patients were CMV IgG positive, 10 [16.1%] were CMV IgM positive and 7 [11.4%] were at borderline. 23 [37.1%] of recipients were CMV Ag positive. Statistical analysis showed no relation between CMV Ab and CMV Ag. In spite of the presence of anti-CMV IgG and IgM antigenemia appears in several patients. There is not a strong correlation between antibodies against cytomegalovirus and the detection of CMV antigen in patients with acute infections