HLA-B27 typing by flow cytometery to identify high risk group for ankylosing spondylitis among patients with low back pain

The human leucocyte antigens [HLA] are known to be associated with some diseases, the most common is HLA-B27 and ankylosing spondylitis [AS]. We studied hundred patients suffering from low back pain and radiologic sacroiliitis and 260 normal healthy individuals. Two methods were used for HLA-B27 typing namely complement mediated lymphocytotoxicity and flow cytometery. Results obtained by the two methods were in agreement. The percentage of B27 individuals among the total number of patients with back pain was 25% while in the control group it was 2.7% [p< 0.001]. Among patients suffering from AS, the percentage of B27 was 96% and relative risk was 85%. Flow cytometery had the advantages of being rapid, simple and accurate. The monoclonal antibody used had the ability to identify all subtypes of B27 known to be associated with AS. It is concluded that HLA - B27 is a rare allele among healthy individuals in Bahrain and that flow cytometery is an excellent method for HLA-B27 typing to identify patients at high risk for AS

Neonatal lupus syndrome: the role of maternal SS: a [RO] and SS-B [LA] antibodies: a case report

A patient who developed systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] five years after she gave birth to a daughter with congenital heart block, is presented. She was clinically normal at the time of that delivery. Her immunological investigations revealed antibodies against SS-A [Ro] and SS-B [La] antigens. The aspects of latency until the development of clinical SLE, the role of such maternal antibodies in the development of fetal congenital heart block and the possibility of its prevention, using Dexamethasone and plasmapheresis during pregnancy are discussed

Vibrating white finger syndrome: a case report

A case of vibrating white finger [VWF] of occupational origin is presented along with a review of recent relevant literature. We believe that this is the first reported case of VWF in Bahrain

AIDS: public health implication

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS] has spread rapidly within "at risk" populations and the reported prevalence continues to increase throughout the world. AIDS is now one of the leading causes of premature mortality among single men aged 25-44 years in a number of cities in the USA. Infection with the causative agent, first isolated in 1983 and subsequently called the human immunodeficiency virus [HIV], occurs more commonly than reported cases of AIDS and has been recognized in the five continents. As the presence of specific antibody is indicative of current infection, five to ten million people are estimated to be infected with HIV. By now approximately 215,000 cases of AIDS have been reported worldwide. Although knowledge of the virology and pathogenesis of the infection is growing constantly, the early epidemiological observations describing at-risk practices and the mode of transmission have remained unchanged. HIV is a blood borne, sexually transmitted retrovirus. With the current knowledge of HIV infection, all antobody positive persons must be regarded as infective i.e. virus positive for life