HLA-B*5808, a new HLA-B allele characterized by sequence based typing.

This brief communication describes a new HLA-B allele (HLA-B*5808) detected in an Italian white volunteer bone marrow donor. With serology, this subject was typed as HLA-B15,17, whereas with molecular biology B*15, B*51, B*52 and/or B*58 could be assigned. In order to clarify the results, direct and cloning sequencing of exons 2, 3 and 4 were carried out. This new allele is identical to HLA-B*5801 in exon 2 except for a silent point mutation at nucleotide 141 where a C is substituted by a T; exons 3 and 4 are typical of HLA-B*51, B*52 and B*78. The peculiar sequence of B*5808 could explain the discrepancy between the serological and molecular typing results.

[Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: review of the literature and description of 2 clinical cases]. / Piastrinopenia indotta da eparina: revisione della letteratura e descrizione di due casi clinici.

We present a literary review regarding heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and we report two cases. The first case regards a female patient with a suspect pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. Low platelet count was observed already during sub-cutaneous heparin therapy but was aggravated by subsequent intra-venous treatment. The second patient developed thrombocytopenia only after intra-venous heparin infusion while previous sub-cutaneous heparin prophylaxis had not caused low platelet count. In both patients platelet counts normalized rapidly only a few hours after withdrawal of heparin treatment. We therefore point out the importance of the correct monitoring of platelet counts for a timely detection and prevention of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, and possible consequent paradoxical thrombosis.