Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0021051 (immunodeficiency)
 71,517 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Although HLA antigens are present on the surface membrane of most cells, erythrocytes express little or no HLA. Occasionally red cells from normal individuals or patients with certain diseases express elevated levels of these molecules. The reasons for such variations are currently not understood. We report here that the expression of very high levels of HLA on erythrocytes occurs in response to interferon alpha given as a therapeutic agent for viral hepatitis. Increased expression became apparent after the second or third week of treatment, peaked at 3-4 months, and decreased at the end of the treatment period. This chronology suggests that elevated HLA expression is originated during erythropoiesis and persists throughout the lifetime of the erythrocyte. Furthermore, erythrocyte HLA expression did not correlate with changes of plasma HLA or beta 2-microglobulin concentrations and was not affected by in vitro chloroquine treatment, ruling out the possibility that HLA was adsorbed from plasma. Increased expression of HLA on erythrocytes was also demonstrated in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, a disease in which increased production of endogenous interferon has been previously documented. We conclude that high HLA expression in red cells occurs in response to persistent interferon stimulation. Further studies will determine if this effect can also be produced by interferon tau or other factors.
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PMID:Induction of erythrocyte HLA expression during interferon treatment and HIV infection. 221 Nov 87

The paper discusses problems of the prevention and treatment of fulminant hepatitis running with massive and submassive hepatic necrosis in evidence of immunodeficiency. The occurrence of most cases is associated with parenteral mode of the infection entry, violation of antiepidemic regulations in hospitals and lack of donors' supervision. High mortality persisting in hospitals requires urgent measures to control parenteral infection with viral hepatitis of different antigenic variants.
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PMID:[Acute viral necrosis of the liver]. 228 12

The immunity characteristics of the T-, B- and A-systems have been studied on the basis of the data registered in the dynamics of the acute period of the disease and several times in catamnesis during 6-12 months of the convalescence period in 217 children with viral hepatitis A and 99 children with viral hepatitis B. The clinical course of viral hepatitis A and that of viral hepatitis B have been found to have certain parallels in their development, as well as specific features of immune response, which can be subdivided into 3 main groups: (a) immunological imbalance, (b) the phase of immunodepression and (c) secondary immunodeficiency. The distinguishing of the variants of immune response and their clinical interpretation are of practical importance for the early prognostication of the course and outcome of the processes and for the differentiated approach to the treatment of viral hepatitides in children.
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PMID:[Clinically conditional variants of the immune response in viral hepatitis A and B in children]. 260 9

The destruction of proliferating lymphoid cells within germinal centers with subsequent replacement by histiocytoid cells has been described in infants and children dying of viral and bacterial infections. The etiology and significance of "epithelioid germinal centers" (EGCs) are unknown. The cells implicated in forming EGCs have included histiocytes and dendritic reticulum cells. We have studied four children at autopsy who died at ages ranging from 10 months to 7 years. Three contracted fatal infections, one with fulminant meningococcemia, one with bacterial sepsis, and one with viral hepatitis. The fourth child contracted viral pneumonitis and died of acetaminophen toxicity. Epithelioid germinal centers were found in numerous lymphoid organs (spleen, lymph nodes, and Peyer's patches) in all four cases. Avidin-biotin complex immunohistochemical analysis performed on formalin-fixed splenic tissue from the first three cases and snap-frozen splenic tissue from the second case revealed an absence of B cells in the follicular centers. The mantle zones surrounding follicles were thin but intact. The histiocytoid cells expanding the germinal centers were positive for S100 and R4/23 (dendritic reticulum cells) and negative for numerous histiocyte markers (alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, and lysozyme). Increased numbers of killer cells (Leu-7) were present within the affected germinal centers in the three cases in which material was available for immunohistochemical studies. Overwhelming infections in these patients seem to result in anomalous natural killer cell activation resulting in localized nonselective destruction of follicular centers similar to anomalous natural killer cell activity reported to occur in fatal infectious mononucleosis. This may lead to an acquired immunodeficiency that precludes long-term survival in affected patients.
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PMID:Epithelioid germinal centers in overwhelming childhood infections. The aftermath of nonspecific destruction of follicular B cells by natural killer cells. 284 41

As a result of inadequate surveillance systems and definitive diagnostic standards, it is impossible to quantify the incidence and true pattern of infectious diseases in Africa. Nonetheless, it is clear that viral, bacterial, spirochetal, protozoal, helminthic, and mycotic infections contribute the greatest proportion of health afflictions among all age groups and population subgroups. Particularly alarming is the high prevalence of viral hepatitis in tropical Africa. By the age of 30 years, 70-90% of Africans show indications of past or current hepatitis B virus infection. Scarification, blood sucking vectors, sexual intercourse, and multiple uncontrolled injections are considered the major risk factors associated with this infection, which appears to be etiologically related to primary liver carcinoma. At least 25% of children born to mothers with antigens to hepatitis B become infected. Hepatitis B immunization--demonstrated to be safe and effective in infants as well as adults--is the best strategy to curb the infection rate. Human T-cell lymphotropic retroviruses have a higher prevalence in Africa than any other continent and are linked to T and B-cell neoplasia. In terms of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, a minimum of 5-10 million Africans are infected and there are well over 100,000 cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The major risk factor for HIV infection is heterosexual promiscuity. Another problematic infection is Lassa fever virus, which can reach epidemic proportions but has not led to significant mortality.
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PMID:Infectious diseases in Africa. 288 36

Serum samples from 56 patients with biopsy-proven chronic B viral hepatitis without superimposed delta hepatitis were analyzed for the various markers of viral replication, including serum hepatitis B e Ag (HBeAg), hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid (HBV-DNA), and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) in the liver tissues. Twenty-seven patients had persistent viral hepatitis (PH) and 29 patients had chronic active hepatitis (CAH) with or without cirrhosis. HBV-DNA was identified in the sera of 81% of patients with PH and 60% of patients with CAH. Significantly higher levels of HBV-DNA were found in patients with PH than in those with CAH. Both HBeAg in serum and HBcAg in liver correlated positively with serum HBV-DNA. Nine patients had serum HBV-DNA in the absence of HBeAg (four had anti-HBe), and seven of these nine patients had stainable HBcAg in the liver (two did not have staining). None of these patients had hepatic HBcAg in the absence of serum HBV-DNA. When these patients were stratified according to their epidemiologic background, serum HBV-DNA was present in a significantly higher number of male homosexuals than in any other groups. This was unrelated to their status of human immunodeficiency viral serology.
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PMID:Markers of viral replication in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. 334 Dec 83

The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies and the symptoms induced [persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL), AIDS-related complex (ARC), acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)] was evaluated in several groups of intravenous (IV) drug abusers in three large Italian cities (Milan, Bologna, and Rome). The earliest evidence of seropositivity in sera collected from patients with acute viral hepatitis dates back to 1979 in Milan and to 1981 in Bologna with peaks in 1983 in both cities. In two groups of IV drug addicts on methadone-maintenance treatment at assistance centers, the prevalence of seropositivity differed sharply between Rome (33.3%) and Milan (69.3%) in 1985. Rates of seroconversion were also found to be higher in Milan than in Bologna and Rome. When a population of IV drug abusers voluntarily attending centers for surveillance of AIDS and/or ARC were investigated, high levels (range 55.2-81.5%) of seropositivity were found in the three cities. ARC prevalence among seropositives was very high (range 48.1-64.2% in 1985) in the three cities. The evolution rate to AIDS in Milan was higher among those attending a center for AIDS surveillance (7.4%) than among those attending an assistance center for methadone treatment (0.9%). These data are compatible with the hypothesis that virus infection among IV drug abusers originated in and then spread widely in Northern Italy (Milan first and then Bologna). Both the first appearance and subsequent spread of virus infection are in keeping with the reported occurrence of AIDS cases in the corresponding three regions of Milan, Bologna, and Rome.
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PMID:Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity in intravenous (i.v.) drug abusers in three cities of Italy: possible natural history of HIV infection in i.v. drug addicts in Italy. 343 Jan 44

Results of a two-dose (150 vs 500 mg/kg/month) crossover study with intravenous immunoglobulin (Endobulin, Immuno) (IVIG) carried out on 12 children with primary immunodeficiency syndromes over a period of 2 years are reported. Eight children had received human plasma (20 mg/kg/month) during the 2 years prior to the IVIG study. As these children had been thoroughly monitored during plasma treatment, a retrospective analysis of these data allowed for comparison with IVIG treatment. Children on low-dose IVIG therapy had significantly (P less than 0.01) fewer days with clinical illness, e.g., sinusitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, and arthritis, than did those receiving plasma treatment. High-dose IVIG therapy led to further significant clinical improvement. Lung function tests (MEF25) improved significantly as well. The difference between high- and low-dose therapy with respect to the improvement in clinical symptoms (e.g., cold, fever, otitis) was more pronounced in children with severe clinical symptoms at the initiation of the study. Children with fewer symptoms did comparably well on high- and low-dose treatment, except for those with acute febrile illness, which was less frequent in children on high-dose IVIG. Regular monitoring of liver enzymes in the group of patients on IVIG therapy gave no indication of the transmission of viral hepatitis in the course of the 2-year IVIG treatment.
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PMID:Results of a prospective controlled two-dose crossover study with intravenous immunoglobulin and comparison (retrospective) with plasma treatment. 356 57

The benefits of blood transfusion must be considered and evaluated in terms of risk factors relating to the adverse effects of transfusion. Transfusions may result in either serious or troublesome complications. Although the risk of transfusion-associated acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is of paramount concern in the patient population, it has been virtually eliminated because of testing of donor units for antibody to human immunodeficiency virus. Serious and troublesome adverse effects of blood transfusion are listed and ranked in order of approximate frequency. About 20% of all transfusions result in some type of adverse effect. The major serious risk of blood transfusion today continues to be transfusion-associated viral hepatitis. This entity is usually subclinical but frequently results in serious chronic liver disease. Transfusions should be avoided unless patient care would be compromised if withheld.
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PMID:Special report: transfusion risks. 363 Sep 78

Parasitic, bacterial, and viral infections may all be associated with transfusion of whole blood and components, including packed red blood cells, platelets, fresh-frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate. Proper collection and storage techniques, careful donor selection, and laboratory screening of donor blood for evidence of syphilis, hepatitis B, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection form the basis for prevention of transfusion-transmitted infections. Viral hepatitis, notably non-A non-B hepatitis, is the most frequent infectious risk of transfusion in the United States today. The risk of HIV infection is very low because of voluntary donor self-deferral and screening of donated blood for evidence of the infection.
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PMID:Current issues in transfusion therapy. 1. Risks of infection. 378 81


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