Abstract. CD8 + CD25 + -activated cytotoxic T cells and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) are independently involved in the severity of Hashimoto's disease (HD). Interferon γ (IFN-γ) activates cytotoxic T cells. To evaluate the hypothesis that the functional +874A/T polymorphism in the gene encoding IFN-γ is associated with the severity of HD, we examined the frequencies of this polymorphism in 34 HD patients who developed hypothyroidism (severe HD); 22 untreated, euthyroid HD patients (mild HD); 49 patients with intractable Graves' disease (GD); 16 GD patients in remission; and 57 healthy volunteers. Frequency of the +874T allele, which is associated with high IFN-γ production, was higher in patients with severe HD than in those with mild HD (odds ratio [OR], 3.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-12.4; p = 0.047), but there was no difference in the frequency between GD patients. The difference in the frequency of +874T was observed in the subset of patients with HD negative for TgAb (OR, 8.4; 95% CI, 1.2-57.3; p = 0.029) but not in the subset of patients with HD positive for TgAb. Our data indicate that the +874A/T polymorphism in the IFN-γ gene is associated with severity of HD.

Objectives To determine the impact of the use of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) in granulocyte apheresis using Spectra Optia. Background Granulocyte transfusion (GT) is a therapeutic option for neutropenic patients with severe bacterial or fungal infections. Recent studies in emergency medicine have shown the potential risk of using HES, which is routinely used in granulocyte apheresis to increase yield by sedimenting red blood cells. We hypothesized that the use of a newer device (Spectra Optia) would spare the need for HES. Methods We retrospectively compared granulocyte apheresis with HES (HES group, n = 89) and without HES (non‐HES group, n = 36) using Spectra Optia. Results The granulocyte yield was significantly higher in the HES group (7.3 × 1010 vs. 2.0 × 10, p < 0.01) and was attributed to the difference in collection efficiency (36% vs. 7.7%, p < 0.01). The absolute neutrophil count on the following morning of GT was significantly higher in the HES group than in the non‐HES group (2460/μl vs. 505/μl, p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the occurrence of adverse events between the HES and non‐HES groups. The renal function was unchanged in both groups after apheresis. Conclusions We demonstrated that the advantage of using HES remained unchanged in granulocyte apheresis using Spectra Optia.

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Irregular erythrocyte antibody screening tests in patients treated with CD38 monoclonal antibodies lead to falsepositive results because of the surface expression of CD38 on red-blood-cell reagents. We obtained false-positive results for blood samples from multiple patients using the automated pre-transfusion testing system IH-1000 (BIO-RAD) after testing a blood sample taken from a patient treated with daratumumab. This may have been caused by residual daratumumab-bound erythrocytes from the treated patient in the device. Such an occurrence may be more or less likely depending on conditions such as drug concentration and measurement sequence. Further verification is needed. Thus, caution is warranted when testing blood samples from patients on anti-CD38 antibody therapy using an automated pre-transfusion testing system.

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