No abstract

High-dose radioimmunotherapy with 131I-labeled antibodies is associated with a high response rate in patients with B-cell lymphoma in whom antibody biodistribution is favorable.

Radioimmunotherapy with [131I]anti-B1 antibody is a promising new treatment for lymphoma.

Nonmyeloablative radioimmunotherapy with 131I-anti-B1 is associated with a high rate of durable remissions in patients with B-cell lymphoma refractory to chemotherapy.

There have been no reports of severe haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) due to Gerbich (Ge) antibodies. Two babies with HDN due to anti-Ge3, both born to the same mother, are described. The anti-Ge appeared in the first pregnancy and was not detectable in the first trimester, the babies' reticulocyte and bilirubin values were not greatly elevated (similar to HDN due to Kell antibodies), and the anaemia in both cases was either not apparent or not severe until 2 to 4 weeks after birth. Ge antigens are found on glycophorins (GPs) C and D; GPC, like Kell, has been shown to be expressed early on erythroid progenitor cells. The maternal anti-Ge3 was shown to promote phagocytosis of Ge+ early erythroid progenitors by monocytes (similar to what has been reported with anti-K and K+ progenitor cells). Thus, anti-Ge3 may cause immune destruction of erythroid progenitors and possibly suppression of erythropoiesis (which would explain the reticulocyte and bilirubin values seen in both cases). Anti-Ge3 appears to be capable of causing severe HDN. We suggest that babies born to mothers with anti-Ge should have their haemoglobin concentrations monitored for signs of anaemia for several weeks after birth. Functional assays may prove useful.