Cryofibrinogenaemia was found in our study with a high prevalence, suggesting that this pathology is rather underestimated. Our data further suggests that these patients should have a regular follow-up because of the high risk of symptom recurrence. We also hypothesize that in some cases essential cryofibrinogenaemia might be a prerequisite for a secondary disease.

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SUMMARY We have studied complement activation both in plasma samples and In lesional skin from palients with leukocytoclaslic cutaneous vasculitis (LCV). Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) quantification of the complement activation markers. C3d,g and fhe terminal complement complex (TCC) in plasma, showed lhal their levels were significantly increased in 66% and 55% of the patienis, respectively (n = 29) compared with healthy controls, whereas the standard measurements of C3, factor B, Clq, C4and C2 were generally within normal range. Elevations of C3d,g and TCC levels in plasma were signifieantly eorrelated. Importantly, a signifieant correlation was found between the severity of the vasculitis and both C3d,g and TCC plasma levels. Immunofluorescence studies of skin biopsy specimens demonstrated simultaneous presence of peri vascular dermal deposits of C3d,g and TCC in lesional skin from 96 Mi and 80% respectively of the patients (n= 25). There was a significant eorrelation between the intensity of the deposits of bolh markers. Clusterin, a TCC inhibitory protein, was always found at the same sites of perivascular TCC deposits, Immunofluorescence studies at the epidermal basemenl membrane zone (BMZ) revealed in each case deposits of C3d,g which were accompanied by TCC deposits in 52% of the biopsy specimens. These data demonstrate that there is a local and systemic activation of the whole complement cascade in human LCV. The presenee of both C3d,g and clusterin‐associatcd TCC perivascular deposits suggests an intervention of a regulatory mechanism oflocal complement activation in LCV. Einally, measurement of plasma C3d,g and TCC appears to be a sensitive indicator of systemic complement activation and disease severity in LCV.

Two quantitative PCR methods with our nonisotopic enzyme-linked oligosorbent assay (ELOSA) in microtiter plate format were developed for quantitation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Quantitative competitive PCR (QC-PCR) was based on the coamplification of the wild-type nef region with a mimic competitive nef gene template carrying mutations in the capture region. Correlation of wild-type HIV-1 nef DNA to mimic template copy number permitted quantitation of HIV-1 copy numbers in the range of 20 to 2,000 copies per g of DNA. Internally controlled PCR (IC-PCR) was based on coamplification of the nef region and the ras gene as an internal endogenous standard. Correlation to known amounts of HIV-1 DNA permitted quantitation by IC-PCR of HIV-1 copy numbers in the range of 10 to 2,000 copies per g of DNA. QC-and IC-PCR-ELOSA were performed on a panel of 53 seropositive patients and 12 seronegative controls. The methods showed similar coefficients of variation below 24%. Quantitations by QC-and IC-PCR-ELOSA were identical for 77% of patient samples. The copy level ranged between 443 ؎ 156 and 21,453 ؎ 13,511 copies per 10 5 CD4 cells for asymptomatic and AIDS patients, respectively. The simplicity and reliability of QC-and IC-PCR-ELOSA methods make them appropriate for routine laboratory use in the quantitation of viral and bacterial DNAs.