IgE levels in B-thalassaemia: correlation with splenectomy and hepatitis B and C virus infections

Ig[E] levels in 54 Beta - Thalassaemia patients were evaluated, and correlated with splenectomy, hepatitis [B] virus [RBV] and hepatitis [C] virus [RCV] infections, liver biopsy findings, number of blood transfusions and levels of serum ferritin, Ig[G], Ig[A], Ig[M] and interleukin-[4] [LL- 4]. Ig[E] levels were significantly higher in all patients than in age matched control subjects. In 16 [29.6%] patients Ig[E] levels were above mean +/- 2 s. d. of normal values. The frequency of Ig[E] with reaginic activity was [12.9%] in patients and [14.3%] in controls [P>0.05]. The highest values of Ig[E] levels were observed in splenectomized patients who were also positive for HBV and HCV especially in patients with one or more serological markers of hepatitis [B] virus infection. The very high levels of Ig[E] were associated with high serum levels of IL[-4] and directly correlated with the number of years after splenectomy. Patients with biopsy proven chronic liver disease had higher Ig [E] levels than tbose without evidence of liver damage. On the other hand, Ig [E] levels were not correlated with the number of transfusions, age, Ig[G], Ig[A] or Ig[M] levels. These results showed that Beta -thalassaemia patients develop elevated Ig[E] levels to which splenectony and hepatitis infections [HBV and HCV] contribute in a synergistic manner

Diuretic ultrasound imaging for assessment of upper urinary tract obstruction

This study was done on 60 patients to evaluate the diagnostic reliability of renal ultrasound with a diuretic in the evaluation of upper tract obstruction. The test comprised an initial renal ultrasound examination followed by the intravenous injection of 250 ml physiological saline with 40 mg furosemide. Further ultrasound scans were carried out from 5 to 120 minutes later. The results were compared with those of diuretic intravenous urography and diuretic renography in some cases. It is concluded that dynamic ultrasound with a diuretic is a useful investigation, and it showed a sensitivity of about 94%