Lymphocyte Populations in the Peripheral Blood from Patients with IgA Nephropathy

Abstract

On the basis of a reported increase of circulating surface IgA-bearing lymphocytes in Japanese patients with IgA nephropathy, peripheral blood lymphocyte populations have been studied in 22 Italian patients affected by the same disease. 13 patients with other chronic idiopathic glomerulonephritis and 15 normal subjects were the controls. No significant difference was found among the three groups. In particular, in the IgA nephropathy group we did not find any increase in the number of IgA-bearing lymphocytes, and in the synthesis of immunoglobulins by circulating lymphocytes.

Acquired Factor VIII Inhibitor in a Non-Haemophilic Patient: Successful Treatment with Plasma Exchange Associated with Factor VIII Concentrate and Immunosuppressors

“…This is hard to explain only on the basis of the con sideration that the inhibitor was mechani cally removed. It is not unlikely that plasma exchange also acted, in conjunction with pharmacological treatment, on the immunoregulation of the patient, possibly favouring a normalization of the helper/suppressor bal ance, as we have shown to occur in other cases [10,11].…”

IgA Nephropathy in Japan

“…We reported earlier [30] increased levels of such IgA-bearing lympho cytes in peripheral blood in patients with IgA nephropa thy, while Fiorini et al [31] and Cosio et al [32] reported normal levels. Deviations among these reports could be eliminated by using fluorescent-activated cell sorters which eliminate any variations among individual observ ers using automated cell counting [27].…”