[Influence of autologous serum on leucocyte-migration-inhibition-test in melanomalignoma (author's transl)]. / Der Einfluss von autologem Serum auf den Leukocyten-Migrations-Inhibitions-Test beim Melanomalignom

Influence of autologous serum on cellular immunological reactivity to melanomalignoma (MM)-associated antigens was examined on 20 patients have MM at different clinical stages, using the Leucocyte-Migration-Inhibition-Test (MIT). These 20 patients were referring to this till now not investigated. When heterologous serum (horse serum) was supplemented, an inhibition of cell-migration could be established in 15/20 cases, whereas a cell-migration inhibition in 14/20 cases was absent if autologous serum was added to culture medium. No correlation could be found between our test results and the clinical stage of the disease. Our results suggests urgently that blocking factors are present in serum of MM-patients. There is reason to believe that this factors will be active in lymphocyte level.

[IgE and the significance of the radio-allergo-sorbent-test (RAST)]. / IgE und die Bedeutung des Radio-Allergo-Sorbens-Testes (RAST)

In 1966 a new immunoglobulin was found in persons with allergies and in non-typical myeloma proteins. Normally this immunoglobulin E is present only in nanogramms and rests with predilection on the membrane of mast-cells. There is a reaginic-anaphylactic reaction after re-exposure of antigens to the antigen-antibody reaction followed by denudation of mediators of the anaphylactic reaction. With the Radio-Immuno-Sorbent-Test (RIST) the IgE can be quantitatively determined. Elevated IgE-blood levels are typically found in atopic eczema. With the Radio-Allergo-Sorbent-Test (Rast) the allergen specific IgE can be defined. A conformity with appropriate patchtests can be achieved in 60-80% of the cases. In this review advantoses and problem of RIST- and RAST-diagnoses are described. RAST represents a valuable aid in diagnosis of allergies beeing not burdensome and risky, as it is easy to perform and bears no risk to the patients. At the present time, however, patch tests are necessary in the diagnosis of allergies.

[Cellular immunity in melanomalignome (author's transl)]. / Zur celluären Immunität beim Melanomalignom

Cellular immunological reactivity was examined in 20 patients having melanomalignoma at different clinical stages, using Leukocyte-Migration-Inhibition-Test. As antigens three homologous melanoma-extracts were used, produced by our own method. Independent from the clinical stages cell-migration inhibition could be established in 15 out of the 20 patients. In this way, these tumor extracts have been shown to contain melanoma-associated antigens. Regardless of the clinical stage of the disease, the melanomalignomas patient produces cellular immunity against those tumor-antigens. It is note-worthy that the actual course of the disease seems not to be influenced by immun-mechanisms.

[T- and B-lymphocytes in the so-called collagenoses]. / T- und B-Lymphocyten bei sogenannten Kollagenosen

Lymphocytes of peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and dermatomyositis were investigated, and relatively, with regard to T- or B-cell characteristics. T-lymphocytes of most patients with SLE were decreased both absolutely. B-lymphocytes mostly showed only a relative increase. Successful immunosuppressive treatment usually accompanied by normalization of T-cell number and with decrease of B-cells. This differentiation of lymphocytes is an additional aid in the determination of activity of SLE and a useful index of immunosuppressive-cytostatic treatment.

[The presence of scleroderma and chronic lymphadenosis concurrently in a patient (author's transl)]. / Gemeinsames Vorkommen von progressiver Sklerodermie und chronischer Lymphadenose

This report deals with the case of a 50 year-old woman with long-standing scleroderma of the acral-asphyxial type with a relatively slight tendency to progression. Chronic lymphadenosis has been an additional feature of this case over the past few years. The following findings appear of particular interest: autoimmune phenomena in the form of antinuclear antibodies, a virtually monoclonal proliferation of B-lymphocytes and a relative T-lymphocyte deficiency. It is suggested that both conditions may be pathogenetically connected with an immunologically defined insufficiency of the lymphocytic system. Hence, in view of this observation, it may not be correct to consider scleroderma a "paraneoplastic phenomenon".