A multicenter validation of recombinant β3 integrin-coupled beads to detect human platelet antigen-1 alloantibodies in 498 cases of fetomaternal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

Background: Fetomaternal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FMAIT) is caused by human platelet (PLT) antigen (HPA) incompatibility. Beads coupled with recombinant β3 integrins, displaying the biallelic HPA-1 epitopes (rHPA-1), have been shown to detect HPA-1a alloantibodies implicated in FMAIT. This report describes a multicenter validation of the beads using the results of well-characterized samples to define the optimum parameters for analysis of a large cohort of 498 clinical samples.

Accurate quantitation of D+ fetomaternal hemorrhage by flow cytometry using a novel reagent to eliminate granulocytes from analysis.

Background: Quantitation of fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) is performed to determine the dose of prophylactic anti-D (RhIG) required to prevent D immunization of D- women. Flow cytometry (FC) is the most accurate method. However, maternal white blood cells (WBCs) can give high background by binding anti-D nonspecifically, compromising accuracy.

The Influence of the HLA-DRB1 rheumatoid arthritis shared epitope on the clinical characteristics and radiological outcome of psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the associations of the HLA-DRB1 rheumatoid arthritis shared epitope (SE) with clinical characteristics and radiological outcome in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: One hundred fifty-eight patients with well documented PsA and 250 controls were typed for HLA-DRB1 alleles including the SE by polymerase chain reaction. Clinical data collected on the patient group included disease subset, swollen and tender joint counts, the psoriasis area severity index (PASI), and the presence of radiological erosions.