T lymphocyte subsets, natural killer cell cytotoxicity and autologous mixed lymphocyte response in children after splenectomy because of hereditary spherocytosis.

Lymphocyte subpopulations and autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) studied in 13 hereditary sphereocytosis and 21 postsplenectomy patients; the operation was performed because of hereditary spherocytosis. Significant increases of Th cells and the Th/Ts ratio have been noted in children with hereditary spherocytosis. Splenectomy because of spherocytosis has resulted in an increase in Ts cell number and diminution of Th/Ts ratio.

Modified end-point glycerol hemolysis assay as a screening test for hereditary spherocytosis that requires no venipuncture.

The high specificity of the "pink test" for the detection of hereditary spherocytosis has been confirmed. A modification of the test is proposed that requires only 10 microliter of blood taken without anticoagulant (a "direct pink test"), thus eliminating the necessity of venipuncture, especially cumbersome in newborns and infants.

Isochromosome X in acute myeloblastic leukemia.

An aberrant leukemic clone with a 46,X,i(Xq) karyotype appeared at the first relapse of the disease in a case of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). The DNA replication pattern displayed asynchronous late termination within the homologous arms of the isochromosome in all investigated metaphases. The origin of asynchrony in the isochromosome's DNA replication pattern is discussed.