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Biomedical subjects

M J Rodrigo

Publications and source records attributed to M J Rodrigo.

61 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[Circulating immune complexes-like material and complement in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis (author's transl)].

Circulating immune complexes (IC) in 52 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) seropositive, 25 RA seronegative and 32 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients were assayed by two methods: 1) precipitation with a final 2% polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentration with immunoglobulins (Igs) quantitation in the precipitate and 2) the ability of IC to consume complement, evaluating conversion products from human C3 by bidimensional rocket immunoelectrophoresis. CH50, C3, C4, C3PA and circulating C3 conversion products were quantitated. IC precipitates with 2% PEG contained three classes of Igs: IgG, IgM and IgA, the latter being the most rare. In the control group Igs level precipitated with 2% PEG were: 2% PEG-IgG 2.5 mg/100 ml +/- 2; 2% PEG-IgM 0.72 mg/100 ml +/- 1.09; 2% PEG-IgA 0.04 mg/100 ml +/- 0.18. With 2% PEG IC-like material was detected in 58.5% of RA seropositive patients but none generated C3 conversion products. With neither methods was IC-like material detected in the RA seronegative group and none with 2% PEG in AS, either. However, in the latter, 21.8% generated C3 conversion products and 18.7% circulating C3 conversión products. In the RA seropositive patients no correlation was observed between the levels of 2% PEG-IgG and 2% PEG-IgM and the titre of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) nor between 2% PEG-IgG and that of IgG in serum. However, there was a low correlation between 2% PEG-IgM and that of IgM in serum and between 2% PEG-IgG and 2% PEG-IgM with rheumatoid factor (RF). It should be stressed that the value of the PEG method in the detection of IC-like material must be reconsidered, since using a 2% final concentration and a specific evaluation of Igs and complement components in the precipitate, it may be a method easy to perform and useful for clinical purposes.

Adult↗

[Absence of antiDNA antibodies in the cryoglobulins of a case with sicca syndrome (author's transl)].

Cryoglobulins are serum immunoglobulins (immunocomplexes) that precipitate in the cold and redissolve on warming. Cryoglobulins from patients with several diseases showed the presence of antiDNA antibodies when previously underwent incubation in acid buffer. The possibility that antiDNA antibodies might constitute the immunocomplexes found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and with other connective tissue diseases is suggested. Negative findings in relation to the presence of antiDNA antibodies in cryoglobulins of a case with sicca syndrome are reported.

Antibodies↗

[Hereditary angioneurotic edema: study of serum complement and therapeutic trial with tranexamic acid (author's transl)].

Three familial generations (five members with hereditary angioneurotic edema) have been evaluated under clinical and immunological standpoints. A therapeutic trial with tranexamic acid was carried out. The five members with hereditary angioneurotic edema showed: decreased values of total hemolytic activity (CH50), deficit of C4 (between 8 and 23 percent of the normal value), and normal levels of C3 and C9. C3PA was normal in four members and decreased in one. Asymptomatic familial members had normal serum complement levels; only three cases showed diminished values of CH50, C4, C-1-INH and C3PA. Therapeutic trial with tranexamic acid demonstrated the usefulness of this agent in the treatment of angioneurotic edema; it showed slighter adverse reactions than those derived from other therapeutic modalities. Screening of asymptomatic familial members is pointed out in order to detect low plasma values of C1-IHN.

Angioedema↗

[Cryoglobulins and liver disease. Study of 34 cases (author's transl)].

Cryoglobulins are immunoglobulins characterized by precipitating when serum is cooled and redissolving when serum is heated. There is strong evidence to consider mixed cryoglobulins as circulating immunocomplexes, and various investigators have applied the precipitating physical property as a method to isolate immunocomplexes. In the recent years some authors have reported the presence of cryoglobulins in acute and chronic liver diseases of diverse etiology. This study investigates the presence of cryoglobulins in 34 patients with different liver diseases. Mixed cryoglobulins were detected in eight patients (23.5 percent), but only three of them had clinical symptoms attributable to the existence of cryoglobulins. In relation to the etiology of the liver disease, the highest frequency has been found among patients with hepatopathies of undetermined origin.

Aged↗

[Cryoglobulins in systemic and rheumatological diseases. Report of 70 cases (author's transl)].

Cryoglobulins are immunoglobulins characterized by precipitating when serum is cooled and redissolving when serum is heated. There is strong evidence to consider mixed cryoglobulins as circulating immunocomplexes. Cryoglobulins have been demonstrated in association to hematologic, hepatic, lymphoproliferative, autoimmune and infectious conditions. There is also an essential or idiopathic variant. The present report studies a series of 70 patients with several rheumatic and systemic diseases, and a group of ten patients with cutaneous vasculitis. Significant levels of cryoglobulins have been detected in nine cases (overall incidence 12.8 percent). The diagnoses corresponding to these patients were as follows: systemic lupus erythematosus in three cases, dermatopolymyositis in three cases, Sjögren's syndrome in two cases, and Wegener's granulomatosis in one case. Cryoglobulins could not be demonstrated in patients with rheumatoid artritis, sclerodermia, periarteritis nodosa, cutaneous vasculitis, Reiter's syndrome, ankylosing spondilitis and acute articular rheumatism. Among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus a good correlation has been observed between the presence of serum cryoglobulins, the activity and severity of the diseases and the decrease of serum complement levels.

Blood Protein Electrophoresis↗