Fc gamma receptor IIIb polymorphism and systemic lupus erythematosus: association with disease susceptibility and identification of a novel FCGR3B*01 variant.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between Fc gamma receptor IIIb polymorphism and susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus and clinical traits of the disease. METHODS: Genomic DNA was obtained from 303 consecutive systemic lupus erythematosus patients and 300 healthy blood donors from the southeastern region of Brazil. The polymorphic region of the FCGR3B gene was sequenced and the alleles FCGR3B*01, FCGR3B*02 and FCGR3B*03 were analyzed. RESULTS: The FCGR3B*01 allele was more frequent in systemic lupus erythematosus patients (43.1%) while the FCGR3B*02 allele prevailed among controls (63.7%) (P = 0.001). The FCGR3B*03 allele was found equally in both groups. The FCGR3B*01/*01 (20.7%) and FCGR3B*01/*02 (41.1%) genotypes were more frequent among systemic lupus erythematosus patients (P = 0.028 and P = 0.012, respectively) while the FCGR3B*02/*02 genotype was more frequent in controls (45.5%) (P < 0.001). One variant of the FCGR3B*01 allele previously described in Germany was found in only one control. A new variant of the FCGR3B*01 allele with two substitutions (A227G/G277A) was found in one control. Three variants of the FCGR3B*02 allele previously described in African-Americans, Brazilians, Chinese and Japanese were found in ten 10 patients and two controls. In addition, several single nucleotide polymorphisms at non-polymorphic positions were identified in both patients and controls. CONCLUSION: Susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus was associated with the FCGR3B*01 allele, as well as with the FCGR3B*01/*01 and FCGR3B*01/*02 genotypes. No association was found between FCGR3B genotypes and clinical manifestations, disease severity or the presence of autoantibodies.

Transfusions of CPDA-1 red blood cells stored for up to 28 days decrease donor exposures in very low-birth-weight premature infants.

The goal of this research was to study the safety and the efficacy of transfusing citrate-phosphate-adenine anticoagulant-preservative (CPDA-1) RBC stored for up to 28 days to reduce donor exposures in premature infants. A prospective randomized two-group study was conducted with very low-birth-weight premature infants that received at least one RBC transfusion during hospital stay. Neonates randomly assigned to Group 1 (26 infants) were transfused with CPDA-1 RBC stored for up to 28 days; those assigned to Group 2 (26 infants) received CPDA-1 RBC stored for up to 3 days. Demographic and transfusion-related data were collected. Neonates from both groups showed similar demographics and clinical characteristics. The number of transfusions per infant transfused was 4.4 +/- 4.0 in Group 1 and 4.2 +/- 3.1 in Group 2, and the number of donors per infant transfused was 1.5 +/- 0.8 (Group 1) and 4.3 +/- 3.4 (Group 2), P < 0.001. RBC transfusions containing 29.7 +/- 18.3 mmol L(-1) of potassium (RBC stored for up to 28 days) did not cause clinical or biochemical changes and reduced donor exposures by 70.2%, compared to transfusions containing 19.8 +/- 12.3 mmol L(-1) of potassium (RBC stored for up to 3 days), P < 0.001. In conclusion, RBC stored for up to 28 days safely reduced donor exposures in premature infants.