Complement activation during cardiopulmonary bypass: comparison between the use of large volumes of plasma and dextran 70.

Cardiopulmonary bypass surgery may be complicated by a systemic inflammatory reaction, which has been ascribed to the activation of complement. For such activation, the choice of priming solution for the heart-lung machine may be of importance. The peripheral blood of two groups of 10 patients, either exposed to dextran 70 or to plasma as priming solutions, was therefore studied pre-, per-, and postoperatively.

Ocular polyarteritis nodosa. Report of a case.

A patient with bilateral amaurosis as a complication to polyarteritis nodosa is presented. He developed affection of the central retinal arteries and the arteries supplying the optic discs followed by retinal and optic atrophy. After one month no vessels could be observed neither in the retinae nor at the optic discs.

The significance of HIV antigen and HIV antibodies specific against envelope and core proteins in serum of HIV-infected hemophiliacs.

Serial serum samples from the 21 HIV-infected Norwegian hemophiliacs have been assayed for the presence of HIV antigen and antibodies to HIV specific for the core protein p24 and the envelope protein gp41. HIV antigen was detected in 4 patients, of whom 3 have developed AIDS to date. HIV antigen appeared in serum 10 to 24 months before the diagnosis in these patients.

HIV infection in Norwegian haemophiliacs: the prevalence of antibodies against HIV in haemophiliacs treated with lyophilized cryoprecipitate from volunteer donors.

334 of 389 (86%) registered Norwegians with coagulation factor defects were screened for antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 1985/1986. 21 persons were confirmed anti-HIV positive. They were all persons with clinically severe haemophilia A and represent 18.

Effect of fibroblast interferon and recombinant gamma interferon on zymosan-induced nitroblue tetrazolium reduction in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPM) were cultivated with a fibroblast interferon (IFN) preparation or recombinant gamma-IFN (rIFN-alpha) for 1, 24 or 48 h. The zymosan-induced reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) in these MPM was then measured. Fibroblast IFN enhanced the NBT reducing capacity of MPM when the incubation period was 1 h.

Autopsy findings in three family members with a presumably acquired immunodeficiency syndrome of unknown etiology.

This paper presents clinical, immunological and post-mortem findings in three family members (husband, wife and daughter) who all died in 1976 after having had chronic and recurrent opportunistic infections for many years. In all of them a progressive, presumably acquired T-lymphocyte defect associated with B-lymphocyte dysfunction had been diagnosed several years before death. The clinical and immunological findings are compatible with those seen in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by HTLV-III/LAV infection, but examinations of stored blood samples from the three patients were negative with regard to the presence of HTLV-III/LAV antibodies.

High-dose intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy as initial treatment in cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis. A pilot study.

Ten patients with fibrosing alveolitis were treated in a simple random design initially with either a high dose of methylprednisolone (5 patients) or a conventional dose of prednisolone (5 patients) followed by a maintenance dose of 30 mg prednisolone daily. The patients were followed for 6 weeks. No significant (p greater than 0.

Quantification of the terminal complement complex in human plasma by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on monoclonal antibodies against a neoantigen of the complex.

The fluid-phase terminal complement complex (TCC), consisting of the components C5b, C6, C7, C8, C9, and the S-protein, has recently been detected in normal human plasma by using antibodies against native terminal complement components. Increased amounts of TCC were then found in several patients with in vivo activation of complement. We now describe a sensitive, specific, and reliable enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for quantification of the TCC, based on monoclonal antibodies against a neoantigen of the complex.

Increased plasma levels of the terminal complement complex in patients with evidence of complement activation.

The terminal C5b-9 complex of human complement has recently been described and quantified in normal human plasma by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We collected EDTA plasma samples from 20 patients clinically suspected to have complement activation. The terminal complement complex (TCC) and C3d split products were measured.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Clinical, immunological, pathological, and microbiological studies of the first case diagnosed in Norway.

The first case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Norway, diagnosed in January 1983, is presented, with results of clinical, immunological, and microbiological studies and the results of autopsy. Immunological studies showed several immunological abnormalities, including a profound deficiency of the T-cell system of the type usually associated with AIDS. During the 11 months of symptomatic disease the patient had a series of opportunistic infections, including recurrent candida esophagitis, probable Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, and severe and recurrent perioral Herpes simplex virus infection.

Legionella pneumonia--a neglected diagnosis?

A brief survey of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis and treatment of infections with Legionella species is given, with particular emphasis on Legionella pneumophila. Because of recent epidemiological evidence that this species may be an important cause of both community-acquired and hospital-acquired pneumonia, particularly in the immunosuppressed patient, it is suggested that this microbial agent should be considered more often in the differential diagnosis of pneumonia. This has practical implications for therapy, since the drug of choice in Legionella infections is erythromycin, with doxycycline as an alternative.

Bacterial infections in the compromised host.

Patients with defects in host defence mechanisms represent an important and increasing problem in medicine. While severe, primary immunodeficiency diseases are rare, patients with secondary or acquired immunodeficiency disorders are commonly encountered, particularly in hospital medicine. The cause of these secondary immunodeficiency states is either the underlying disease or iatrogenic factors associated with therapeutic regimens, often a combination.

Interaction of microbial agents with the immune system during infectious disease.

Research during the last years has revealed a considerable complexity of the immune system. It is clear that immunological reactions depend on extensive and only partly clarified interactions between a number of different cell types (e.g.