Among 37 patients treated with levamisole for rheumatoid arthritis (n = 19), for Reiter’s disease (n = 4) and for chronic articular brucellosis (n = 14) followed up during 6–12 months, 3 developed agranulocytosis and 3 severe neutropenia. Serum samples drawn before and during treatment were tested for leukocyte agglutinating and lymphocytotoxic antibodies. Leukocyte agglutinating antibodies were induced in 8 patients, in 5 of them in association with agranulocytosis or neutropenia. In 1 patient with agranulocytosis and in another one with neutropenia lymphocytotoxic antibodies were also induced. Two agranulocytotic and one neutropenic patient possessed HLA B27 antigen. In altogether 11 HLA B27 carriers the numbers of circulating neutrophils were significantly reduced during levamisole treatment when compared with those of patients lacking HLA B27 antigen.

The occurrence and composition of complexed beta2-microglobulin (beta2m) in sera and synovial fluids of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus patients and control persons was investigated. Beta2m-containing complexes were detected in immune complex (IC)-enriched fractions isolated by precipitation with 3% polyethylene glycol 6000, in the macromolecular peaks after Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, and in IC desorbed from solid-phase Clq. Beta2m complexes were demonstrated also after precipitation of redissolved PEG-insoluble material by anti-human beta2m serum or isolation of the complexes by use of Sephadex-anti-beta2m. IgG was co-isolated with beta2m on Sephadex-anti-beta2m and free beta2m inhibited the binding of IgG to Sephadex anti-beta2m, indicating that IgG was present in the complexed beta2m. Analysis by SDS-polyacrylamide gradient electrophoresis under reducing conditions indicated that the purified beta2m complexes contained IgG and beta2m.

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The polarization optical analysis of human blood platelets was carried out by means of topo-optical staining reactions. Similar studies have not been performed so far. With this approach we were able to demonstrate the spatially oriented nature of glycoprotein components in the platelet membrane. Using a sialic acid specific topo-optical reaction the sialic acid component of human platelet membrane was selectively demonstrated and the even distribution of sialic acid residues on the membrane surface was also suggested. Polarization optical analysis has shown a membrane-parallel orientation of oligosaccharide chains carrying sialic acids.