Characterization of a new HLA-DRB1 allele: DRB1*14:172.

DRB1*14:172 homologous to DRB1*14:01 has been found with a variation in 314 A > G.

Characterization of a new HLA allele: A*02:548.

HLA-A*02:548 differs from A*02:01:01:01 by one nucleotide at position 367T > C resulting in histidine at codon 99.

Rituximab as pre-emptive treatment in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and evidence of anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare and severe disease characterized by thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic haemolytic anemia, neurological and renal involvement associated with deficiency of the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, ADAMTS13. Persistence of high titers of anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies predisposes to relapsing TTP. Since relapses are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates, the optimal therapeutic option should be a pre-emptive treatment able to deplete anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies and avoid relapses.

High rate of remission and low rate of disease recurrence in patients with multiple myeloma allografted with PBSC from their HLA-identical sibling donors.

A total of 30 multiple myeloma patients (M=23, F=7; age 31-55 years, median 48) were allografted with peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) from HLA-identical siblings. Time to transplantation was 3-107 months (median 8). Prior chemotherapy lines varied from 1 to 6 (median 1).