[Appearance of anti-DNA antibodies after treatment with interferon in a patient with chronic type C viral hepatitis]. / Comparsa di anticorpi anti-DNA dopo trattamento con interferone in un paziente con epatite virale cronica di tipo C.

The development of autoantibodies and autoimmune reactions has been reported during and after interferon (IFN) therapy. We report the case of a 55-years-old woman who developed anti-DNA and anti-nuclear antibodies after a 9 months treatment with alpha-IFN for chronic hepatitis C. Autoantibodies appearance has not modified the response to therapy; no clinical sign of autoimmune disease is appeared in a 5 months follow-up. HLA typing didn't show a genetic predisposition for the development of autoimmune reactions.

Thalassaemia trait and myocardial infarction: low infarction incidence in male subjects confirmed.

A total of 4401 subjects admitted to the Medical Division of St Camillo Hospital in Comacchio (Ferrara, Italy) over a period of 7 years were prospectively evaluated in order to determine whether the heterozygous beta-thalassaemic (HBT) could be considered as a protective factor against the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Of the total patient sample, 3954 subjects were non beta-thalasaemics (NBTs), and 447 subjects were heterozygous beta-thalassaemics (HBTs). AMI was diagnosed in 384 patients, of whom 17 individuals were HBTs and 367 subjects were NBTs. The prevalence of HBTs in this group was significantly lower than expected (4.43%, P less than 0.0001). Furthermore, an analysis by sex showed that this lower prevalence could be attributed to male patients. Moreover, only in male subjects was a significant negative correlation observed between AMI and HBT. The mean age at which AMI occurred in male HBTs was significantly higher than in male NBTs (72 +/- 2.69 vs. 63 +/- 0.7 years, P less than 0.05), while no differences were found in the mean age at which AMI occurred between HBT and NBT female subjects. This study demonstrates that the thalassaemic trait may afford some protection against the occurrence of AMI in men.

Analysis of folate and vitamin B12 in beta thalassemia minor.

To evaluate whether anemia of heterozygote beta thalassemic subjects depends on folate or vitamin B12 deficiency, the serum values of these two vitamins were assessed in 176 adult subjects: 81 healthy heterozygote beta thalassemic subjects, 76 healthy normal controls and 15 subjects with microcytic iron deficient anaemia and no thalassemic trait. Mean serum folate and vitamin B12 levels in heterozygote beta thalassemic subjects were not statistically different when compared to control groups. No statistically significant correlation was found between mean serum levels of the two vitamins and hematocrit in beta thalassemic carriers and in normal subjects.

Immunological pattern in heterozygote beta thalassemic subjects.

In heterozygote beta-thalassemic subjects in a higher incidence of infectious diseases and of liver diseases with progression toward chronic hepatitis has been assessed. This predisposition has been suggested as being related to some immunological defects and to an altered immunological reactivity in thalassemia trait carriers. In order to evaluate whether there is a real deficiency of some humoral and cellular parameters in healthy heterozygote beta-thalassemic subjects, 128 symptom-free volunteers have been studied: 40 were heterozygote beta thalassemia carriers and 88 were normal subjects. In both groups there was no difference in: number and percentage of total lymphocytes, gamma globulins, immunoglobulins A and M, number and percentage of CD21, CD3, CD4, CD8, number of OKla*1, CD4/CD8 rations and lymphocytes' ability to respond to phytohemagglutinin. The values of immunoglobulins G and percentages of OKla*1 were found to be higher only in heterozygote beta thalassemic subjects; however, the number of CD2 in these subjects was lower. The result of the present study seems to indicate there is not significant difference between heterozygote beta thalassemic carriers and normal subjects in the more usual humoral and cellular immunological parameters.

Average life expectancy of heterozygous beta thalassemic subjects.

In order to define the lifespan of heterozygous beta thalassemic subjects as compared to non thalassemic subjects, the authors prospectively studied all patients deceased during a period of 76 months at St. Camillo Hospital of Comacchio (Ferrara), located in the Po delta, a region with high prevalence of thalassemia minor. No statistically significant differences were found in the average life expectancy between the thalassemic and non thalassemic groups.