(T Clin Pathol 1995;48:223-225)

Analyzing the phenotypic characterization of the immune system cells involved in the pathogenesis of immunodeficiency with thymoma (Good's syndrome) is difficult due to the low number of studies on that subject. We describe the immunological alterations observed in a case of Good's syndrome, and we summarize the pathogenic explanations found in the literature. V C 2011 International Clinical Cytometry Society

Cirrhotic patients with ascites have an unusually high frequency of development of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Iron availability is a key factor in bacterial growth and the ability of the host to limit it is associated with resistance to infection. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of iron and transferrin on bacterial growth in ascitic fluid from 25 biopsy-proven cirrhotic and nine neoplastic carcinomatous patients. No significant differences were found when comparing total ascitic fluid iron between the two groups but ascitic fluid transferrin concentration was significantly lower in cirrhotic (29.26 mg dl-1 SD 29.58) than neoplastic (96.57 mg dl-1 SD 76.01) patients. Moreover, a significant negative correlation was found between bacterial growth and transferrin concentration in ascitic fluid (P = 0.039). When the iron concentration in ascitic fluid was experimentally elevated (50 micrograms dl-1 or 150 micrograms dl-1) we observed a progressive increase in bacterial growth. If transferrin concentration is simultaneously elevated (250 mg dl-1) this increase does not occur. These findings indicate that the transferrin level is an important factor in the regulation of bacterial growth in ascitic fluid and that the low concentration found in cirrhotic patients could facilitate spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

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