[ISO 9001 certification: Experience of the immunology and cell therapy laboratory at Ibn Sina University Hospital, Rabat].

Medical analysis laboratories play an essential role in medical diagnosis, with their results influencing up to 70% of decisions. This means that the quality of laboratory services is a key factor in the quality of medical care. However, certification and accreditation are not yet compulsory in Morocco, and only the Guide to the Good Execution of Medical Biology Analyses (GBEA) published in 2011 governs the organisation of laboratories.

Human leukocyte antigen immunization in transfusion-dependent Moroccan patients with beta-thalassemia major: prevalence and risk factors.

Introduction: Beta-thalassemia major patients need a regular blood transfusion to have an initial normal growth. However, these patients have an increased risk of developing alloantibodies. Our main goal was to study HLA alloimmunization in Moroccan Beta-thalassemia patients by confronting it with transfusion and demographic criteria, exploring the involvement of HLA typing profile in the development of HLA antibodies and in turn determining risk factors for their development.

Collection, cryopreservation and thawing of stem cells for children weighing less than 25 Kg with high-risk neuroblastoma: A single center results in Morocco.

Introduction: An important component of the advances made in neuroblastoma treatment has been the use of peripheral blood stem cells to support high-dose chemotherapy. In this study, we report our experience on a series of small children who have undergone standard and large volume leukaphersis (LVL) procedures, provide an update on a single institution's experience with cryopreservation of autologous peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs), using 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and applying post-thaw DMSO depletion and analyze a number of variables that may affect viability.

Methods: A total of 36 aphereses were performed on 29 children weighing less than 25 kg between July 2016 and October 2019 at the Ibn Sina university hospital.

[Husband to wife renal transplantatation and pretransplant HLA immunization: about two cases].

Renal transplantation is the best therapeutic approach for end-stage kidney disease. Renal transplantation can be performed using living donors or brain-dead donors. Vaccination in recipients poses a real problem with the transplantation process because it is responsible for particular difficulties in choosing a donor and above all exposes to the risk of transplant rejection.

HLA typing and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the histocompatibility unit of the Ibn Sina University Hospital in Rabat (Morocco).

Purpose Of Study: This study focuses on the search for a suitable related HLA-matched donor of haematopoietic stem cells in the context of allogeneic transplantation in Morocco. The aim of this work is to establish whether the related donor can meet graft needs in Moroccan patients.

Patients And Methods: 429 families (429 recipients and 965 donors) benefited from HLA typing, using microlymphocytotoxicity, polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer and/or high-resolution polymerase chain reaction-specific sequence oligonucleotide.

[Recipients adverse reactions in the Ibn Sina Hospital of Rabat: State 1999-2013].

Purpose Of Study: The declaration of the recipients adverse reactions (RAR) is one of the field haemovigilance activities. It provides an evaluation of transfusion side effects and thus prevents their appearance. The aim of this study is to analyze, over 14 years, the RAR supports reported in Rabat Ibn Sina hospital.

[Immunological monitoring in kidney transplantation: 13 years experience of a Moroccan histocompatibility laboratory].

Purpose Of Study: The quality of the immunological monitoring is crucial because it determines the success of the kidney transplantation. The scope of this work is to describe the experience of the department of immunological unity of the Ibn Sina university hospital in Rabat regarding the immunological monitoring of patients transplanted between 2001 and 2014.

Patients And Methods: Patient samples were collected from nephrology services of different public and private hospitals of Morocco.

[The HLA system in the Moroccan population: General review].

The Moroccan population is an interesting study model of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) polymorphism given its ethnic and genetic diversity. Through an analysis of the literature, this work proposes to establish a balance of knowledge for this population in the field of histocompatibility: HLA diversity, anthropology, transplantation and HLA associations and diseases. This analysis shows that the HLA system has not been fully explored within the Moroccan population.

Moroccan study of HLA (-A, -B, -C, -DR, -DQ) polymorphism in 647 unrelated controls: Updating data.

The scope of this study is to investigate the HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) distribution and polymorphism in a large sample of healthy Moroccans in order to extend and update the available data. 647 unrelated Moroccan controls originating from diverse regions of the country were typed using microlymphocytotoxicity for HLA-A and -B, sequence-specific-primer amplification for -C, -DR, and -DQ and Luminex HD for specific -DR. The most frequent allele groups detected were HLA-A2 (19.

[Detection of HLA antibodies by Luminex and kidney transplantation decision making: a case report].

We report the case of a patient planned for living-related donor kidney transplantation. HLA antibodies research, performed by the Luminex method, is positive for all the available sera. Cross match was performed by complement-dependent lymphocytotoxicity technique with three family members.

[Evaluation of high resolution Luminex technology for specific HLA-DRB1* typing in the Moroccan population].

The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility of using routinely Luminex high definition technology for the specific HLA typing of donors and recipients of hematopoietic stem cells. 340 HLA-DRB1 *, all from Moroccan individuals were first tested at the generic level and then at the specific level by PCR-SSO Luminex high definition. Alleles identified correspond to those originally found with the generic typing.

[Management by objectives: an experience by transfusion and immunology service in Rabat].

The management by objectives method has become highly used in health management. In this context, the blood transfusion and haemovigilance service has been chosen for a pilot study by the Head Department of the Ibn Sina Hospital in Rabat. This study was conducted from 2009 to 2011, in four steps.

Distribution of HLA class I and II genes in ankylosing spondylitis patients from Morocco.

Objectives: In Morocco, the patients affected by ankylosing spondylitis (AS) presents a high frequency of coxitis. Our study reports, for the first time, the polymorphism of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) class I and class II molecules in the Moroccan patients.

Methods: Forty-six patients diagnosed with an AS and coxitis were compared to a group of 183 healthy controls matched by age, sex and ethnic origin.

[Traceability of labile blood products in Morocco: experience of the Ibn-Sina hospital of Rabat between 1999 and 2010].

Purpose Of Study: The blood transfusion and haemovigilance service of the Ibn-Sina hospital in Rabat (Morocco) was created 1997. This unit manages the pretransfusional tests, distribution of blood products, traceability and haemovigilance. The objective of this study was to analyze, over a period of 12years, the traceability of blood products delivered in our hospital and the measures used to improve feedback information.

Profile and course of early rheumatoid arthritis in Morocco: a two-year follow-up study.

Background: This study aimed to establish the profile and the evolution of an early Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cohort in the Moroccan population and also to search possible predictor factors of structural progression.

Methods: Patients with early RA (< 12 months) were enrolled in a 2-year follow-up study. Clinical, biological, immunogenetic, and radiographical data were analyzed at study entry and at 24 months.

Remission in early rheumatoid arthritis treated with conventional DMARDs. Results of a two-year follow-up study of El Ayachi Moroccan cohort.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate remission in patients with early RA treated by conventional DMARDs and to identify its possible predictor factors.

Methods: Patients with early RA (<12 months) were enrolled in a 2-year follow-up study. Standard evaluation completed at baseline and at 24 months included clinical, laboratory, functional and structural assessment.

[Rejection of kidney graft: mechanism and prevention].

Rejection occurs after the introduction of a genetically different graft, in a recipient. Nowadays, it is still a major obstacle in renal transplantation and reflects a normal protective immune response of a recipient against a foreign antigen. Involving many mechanisms of the innate and adaptive immunity, this reaction results in renal parenchymal lesions witch may progress to graft destruction and loss of its function.

[The latest TH17 lymphocyte in the family of T CD4+ lymphocytes].

In recent years the T CD4+ lymphocyte family has grown. In the initial two components TH1 and TH2 lymphocytes were added the TH17 lymphocyte and T cell regulator (Treg). Under the influence of transforming growth factor β, interleukin 6 (IL6), IL21 and IL23, the naive lymphocyte T CD4+ differentiates in TH17.

[HLA polymorphism and Behçet's disease in Moroccan population].

Objectives: We have study the various associations between Behçet disease and alleles HLA class I and II in Moroccan population. The distribution of HLA alleles involved in the disease is assessed according to clinical signs and sex.

Patients And Methods: Patients suffering from Behçet's disease have been compared to healthy controls matched by age and ethnic origin.

HLA polymorphism and early rheumatoid arthritis in the Moroccan population.

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune multifactorial disease which has a great socio-economic impact in Morocco. The association of HLA genes with RA was studied in various ethnic groups but not in the Moroccan population. Our study focused on evaluating the distribution of class I and class II HLA genes among Moroccan patients presenting early signs of RA.

[Toll-like receptors].

The toll-like receptors are innate immunity receptors which recognise particular exogenous structures in the microorganisms pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) and endogenous structures damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMP). Eleven TLR have been identified among human beings. These are danger receptors located in the cells of the immune system but also in other cells.

Pemphigus and HLA in Morocco.

Purpose Of Study: Pemphigus is a group of autoimmune bullous dermatosis diseases characterized by autoantibodies against keratinocyte adhesion molecule. A significant association with HLA class II genes, particularly DR4 and DR14 has been described in many ethnic groups and countries. We have investigated, for the first time in Morocco the relationship between different pemphigus subtypes and HLA genes.

HLA-A, -B, -DR and -DQ allele and haplotype frequencies in the Moroccan population: a general population study.

Purpose Of Study: The aim of this general population study is to extend our knowledge about the HLA-A, -B, -DR and -DQ genes distribution and their diversity among the Moroccan population.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and ten unrelated healthy Moroccans from diverse regions of the country were included in the study. HLA typing was done either by serological (standard complement dependent microlymphocytotoxicity) and/or molecular (sequence-specific primer amplification) techniques.