[Anti-Ge2 in a Ge: -2, -3 patient]. / Anti-Ge2 en un paciente Ge: -2, -3.

The first report of anti-Ge2 in our country, found in a Ge: -2, -3, A1B Rh+ patient is presented. The IgG + IgM antibody reacted in a low ionic strength medium, with a titre of 128. ABO compatible red blood cells labelled with 51Cr had a very shortened life span, with high haemolytic rate. The transfusion problems posed by this patient and the therapeutic autotransfusional approach carried out are commented.

Disulphide bonds are a requirement for adsorption of cephalosporins on the red cell membrane.

The authors studied the behavior of red cells (RBCs), treated with 2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide (AET), against 100 serums containing cephalothin antibodies and 27 serums with cephapirin antibodies. None of the serums reacted with cephalosporin-coated RBCs that had been exposed previously to AET. The possibility of the Kell system acting as a receptor for cephalosporins was excluded. The authors discuss the significance of cysteine disulphide bonds and the tertiary or quaternary structure of red cell membrane proteins in the binding of cephalosporins to RBCs.