ABSTRACT
The incidence of Thromboangiitis Obliterans in brothers and the high prevalence in some ethnic groups have led us to investigate the histocompatibility HLA-A, B and DR antigens of 46 Buerger's disease patients. The main result indicates a marked decreased freqeuncy of the B12 antigen: 2.2% vs 28% in controls. Our study suggests that Buerger's disease is, on the basis of HLA antigens, a distinct immunogenetic entity and not a particular form of arteriosclerosis. Moreover, this disorder may represent a clue to the existence of resistance genes linked to HLA.
Subject(s)
HLA Antigens/genetics , Thromboangiitis Obliterans/genetics , Adult , Epitopes , Female , Gene Frequency , Genetic Linkage , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Thromboangiitis Obliterans/immunologyABSTRACT
48 patients with grass pollinosis and strongly positive skin tests to crude timothy pollen extract, as well as the relatives of 11 of the, were typed for 26 HLA antigens of the A and B loci. No significant alteration in the frequencies of any particular antigen was observed, except for an increase of HLA-A1 and B8 in patients with multiple manifestations of reaginic disease. In the 11 families investigated, susceptibility to grass pollinosis and IgE levels did not appear to be linked to HLA haplotypes. Preliminary studies with anti-lymphocyte B sera did not reveal any significant alteration in the frequency of positive reactions, using enriched population of B lymphocytes from 16 patients.
Subject(s)
HLA Antigens , Histocompatibility Antigens , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/genetics , Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic , Female , Gene Frequency , Genes , Humans , Immunoglobulin E , Male , Poaceae , Pollen , Radioallergosorbent TestABSTRACT
Hereditary spongiform dystrophy in young children is characterised by macrocephaly with spasticity, convulsions and ultimately a decerebrate state and diffuse electroencephalographic changes. Histological examination of the brain remains essential for its diagnosis. A review of the ultrastructural studies reported by various authors complements the findings obtained by conventional histology. We have thus endeavoured to determine whether van Bogaert-Bertrand's disease is to be considered as congenital or acquired. The anatomical findings in 3 cases together with the descriptions of other authors lead us to the following conclusions: -that the spongiform changes may be due to an osmolar disequilibrium in which the ATPase-Na/K relation with mitochondrial abnormalities is yet unclear. -that the constant finding of Alzheimer type II cells is certainly an indication of intra-astrocytic malfunction. -that the oedema blocks both myelin synthesis and its coiling into lamellae. Case 1, which showed a long survival compared to others described (about 4 years), enabled us to study terminal lesions. Sub-cortical zones, in both cerebrum and cerebellum, contained neither myelin nor spongiform cavities, but, on the other hand, showed a compact glio-fibrillosis with large vesicles and oligodendroglia of increased density. We have interpreted these lesions, progressively replaced by spongiosis deeper in the cortex, as evidence of retracted scar tissue. Differences found between cerebral weights seem to confirm this hypothesis.
