The value of flow cytometric analysis of platelet glycoprotein expression of CD34+ cells measured under conditions that prevent P-selectin-mediated binding of platelets.

In the present study, we show by adhesion assays and ultrastructural studies that platelets can bind to CD34+ cells from human blood and bone marrow and that this interaction interferes with the accurate detection of endogenously expressed platelet glycoproteins (GPs). The interaction between these cells was found to be reversible, dependent on divalent cations, and mediated by P-selectin. Enzymatic characterization showed the involvement of sialic acid residues, protein(s).

[Contribution of bone marrow transplantation to the treatment of children with leukemia].

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is an intensive mode of treatment for acute leukemia of childhood. Indication are types and stages of leukemia with a poor prognosis following chemotherapy, such as acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) in first complete remission (CR) of the disease, and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) following relapse of the disease, in second CR. On the basis of our own experience and of analysis of published data it can be stated that allogeneic BMT, grafting bone marrow cells from a healthy HLA-identical sibling of the patient, has a long-term therapeutical effect which is superior to that of chemotherapy alone: in cases of ANLL, grafted in first CR, a long-term disease-free survival of 55 to 67% was obtained, and in cases of ALL, grafted in second CR, this was between 38 and 64%.

Transient expression of a second monoclonal component in two forms of biclonal gammopathy.

Two cases of transient biclonal gammopathy are described, one having an IgG kappa and an IgA kappa monoclonal component and another with IgG1 kappa and IgG4 kappa monoclonal components. In both of these cases the second monoclonal component gradually disappeared. Anti-idiotypic antibodies were made against the major monoclonal serum component; in the first case the idiotype of the IgG kappa clone was not found in the IgA kappa plasma cells (real biclonal gammopathy) whereas in the second case the idiotypes of the two clones were identical (apparent biclonal gammopathy).