The transfusion needs of an autologous bone marrow transplant patient with IgA deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Transfusion management of the patient who is undergoing a marrow or peripheral blood stem and progenitor cell transplantation is often challenging. The situation is further complicated when the patient is IgA deficient with circulating anti-IgA. CASE REPORT: This report describes an approach to transfusion therapy primarily using red cells washed by automated techniques and cryopreserved autologous plateletpheresis components. Additional platelet support was provided with manually washed allogeneic plateletpheresis components. Autologous fresh-frozen plasma was collected concurrently, and IgA-deficient allogeneic units were ordered and kept in storage, but they were not needed during transplantation. The patient experienced no transfusion sequelae as a result of the IgA deficiency. CONCLUSION: With this approach, the transfusion needs of an IgA-deficient patient were adequately met during bone marrow transplantation.

Amyloid deposition in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, accounts for approximately 60 percent of all victims of dementia and affects greater than 10 percent of the population over 65 years old. Although the cause is unknown, there is evidence that beta-amyloid plays an important role in its pathogenesis. The deposition of this type of amyloid in the brain and its implications in AD are discussed.