In an earlier study concerning patients with autoimmune diseases, a more reliable correlation of clinical disease activity was found with raised concentrations of the serum protein transcobalamin II than with several tests now in common use (complement factor C3, antinuclear antibody titer and antinative DNA binding capacity). These findings were subsequently confirmed in long-term observations over 1 to 3 years: the present paper discusses 5 of 7 investigated cases (2 with SLE, 2 with dermatomyositis of changing activity, and 1 with an erroneous diagnosis of SLE) in detail.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1980

Hemolytic-uremic syndrome associated with neuraminidase-producing microorganisms: treatment by exchange transfusion.

In two infants with pneumonia, Coombs test positive hemolytic anemia and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), exposure of the Thomsen cryptantigen, probably due to the action of circulating neuraminidase, was demonstrated. Reaction between the exposed T-antigen and anti-T agglutinin, normally present in human blood, can lead to difficulties in serological testing and during blood transfusion. The place of exchange transfusions using washed RBC or heparinized whole blood in the management of this subgroup of HUS is discussed.

Antigens↗

PubMed1972