Gene frequencies of the HPA-1 to -6 and -15 human platelet antigens in Tunisian blood donors.

Gene frequencies of mainly human platelet antigens (HPA) -1 to -6 and -15 were determined in 116 Tunisian blood donors. The distribution of HPA-1, -3 and -5 systems approach those found in other Maghrebian populations. Tunisians have the highest frequency of HPA-1b and -5b alleles.

Platelet-specific alloantigens and antibodies in Tunisian women after three or more pregnancies.

Pregnancy may allow alloimmunization against human platelet antigens (HPA), which can lead to neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT). The specificities of alloantibodies are closely related to the distribution of the HPA systems. A total of 281 Tunisian multiparous women (mean number of pregnancies: 4.

Antibodies to anionic phospholipids and cofactors in kala-azar. Comparative study with malaria, toxoplasmosis and "autoimmune diseases".

Objective: To investigate the distribution of various anti-anionic and anti-cofactor phospholipid antibodies in children with kala-azar, and to compare them to malaria, toxoplasmosis and auto-immune disease.

Patients And Methods: The frequency and the concentration of antibodies against cardiolipin (aCL), phosphatidylserine (aPS), phosphatidylinositol (aPI), phosphatidic acid (aPA), Beta2GPI (anti-Beta2GPI), prothrombin (aPT), annexin V (aAnnV), protein C (aPnC) and protein S (aPnS) were studied in sera from 103 children with kala-azar and compared with malaria (n=32), toxoplasmosis (n=31), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (n=40) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) (n=35).

Results: The prevalence of aCL, aPS, aPI, aPA, anti-Beta2GPI, aPT, aAnnV, aPnC and aPnS was 54%, 56%, 43%, 28%, 73%, 67%, 55%, 30%, 25%, respectively.

[Xg gene frequencies in Tunisia].

We report a new case of anti-Xg(a) antibody found in a man who, after receiving six units of standard red blood cells, developed a minor nonhemolytic transfusion reaction (chills-hyperthermia). The patient sera was used for an immunophenotyping scale in 777 healthy Tunisian blood donors (678 men; 99 women). The phenotype frequencies of Xg(a+) and Xg(a-) were 67.

A prospective study of the prevalence of heparin-induced antibodies and other associated thromboembolic risk factors in pediatric patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Heparin, which is used at high doses in hemodialysis patients, may induce antibodies favoring thromboembolic complications. We prospectively investigated the prevalence of heparin-induced platelet-reactive antibodies in a cohort of 38 pediatric hemodialysis patients, by means of heparin/platelet factor 4 (H/PF4) ELISA and heparin-induced platelet activation assay (HIPA). We also assessed other acquired and congenital hypercoagulable states.