No abstract available.
Allergy and Immunology*

No abstract available.
Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic* ; Vasculitis*

BACKGROUND: CD22 is a glycoprotein expressed on the surface of normal mature B cells and in the cytoplasm of normal B cell precursors. Cytoplasmic CD22 (cCD22) has been proposed as a immunologic marker for the diagnosis of B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) while membrane CD22 (mCD22) has been used as the marker for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, B-lineage lymphoma, and hairly cell leukemia, and mCD22 has not been routinely used for the diagnosis and subgrouping of ALL. The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of mCD22 in B-lineage ALL and its clinical significance. METHODS: From 1992 to April, 1998, the leukemic cells of 64 patients newly diagnosed as B-lineage ALL by immunophenotyping were analyzed by the direct immunofluorescence method using monoclonal antibodies including mCD22. RESULTS: mCD22 was positive in 53% (34/64) of all patients, 50% (21/42) of children and 59% (13/22) of adults. According to the immunologic classification, mCD22 was positive in 44% (4/9) of group II, 53% (19/36) of group III, 69% (11/16) of group IV, but negative in 3 cases of group V and VI. The complete remission rate of the mCD22 negative group in group III was significantly higher than that of the mCD22 positive group (P=0.008). There were significant differences in survival rates between the mCD22 positive group and the mCD22 negative group in group II, III and IV (P=0.046) and the above observed significant difference was seen when group III was separately tested (P=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that the expression of mCD22 may be a poor prognostic factor in B-lineage ALL and that mCD22 shall be clinically used as a prognostic marker especially in group III, which is most common among the subgroups of B-lineage ALL.
Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; B-Lymphocytes ; Biomarkers ; Child ; Classification ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; Lymphoma ; Membranes* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Mixed cryoglobulinemia occurs predominantly in association with chronic liver diseases, infections, autoimmune diseases, and malignancies. Mixed cryoglobulinemia has been classified as essential if no primary disease is identified. Recently, mixed cryoglobulinemia has been reported in cases of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection in foreign countries, but there have been few reports on the subject In our country. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and clinical features of HCV infection in patients with cryoglobuline mia in Korea. METHODS: Eighty-five patients with detectable serum cryoglobulin were studied between June 1996 and January 1997 at Hanyang university Hospital. Anti-HCV antibodies (Ab) were tested In all patients by particle agglutination method (ASAN HCV. PA Kit) and confirming a positive results, were tested by the microparticle enzyme immunoassay method (IMx, Abbott). Medical records were analyzed retrospectively to compare the clinical features between anti-HCV Ab positive and anti-HCV Ab negative patients. RESULTS: Anti-HCV antibodies were found in 12 out of 85 (about 14%) patients with cryoglobulinemia. Six of these patients were diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis and 4 as osteoarthritis, and 2 as fibromyalgia syndrome. Nine of the 12 patients had no remarkable abnormalities in their liver function test results and there were no statistical differences between anti-HCV _Lb positive and negative groups. There were no meaningful differences between the two groups in immunologic data such as rheumatoid factor, C reactive protein, antinuclear antibody, and antiperinuclear factor. CONCLUSIONS: We found the association of HCV infection and cryglobulin in Korean patients with cryoglobulinemia and recommend routine anti-HCV Ab testing in patients with cryoglobulinemia even if they have normal liver function test results.
Agglutination ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Autoimmune Diseases ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cryoglobulinemia* ; Fibromyalgia ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Korea ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Function Tests ; Medical Records ; Osteoarthritis ; Prevalence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheumatoid Factor

No abstract available.
Humans ; Phenotype*

BACKGROUND: Before the introduction of the antinuclear antibody test (ANA), the lupus erythematosus (LE) cell test was a useful diagnostic test for systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) But, the ANA test has replaced the LE cell test in virtually all laboratories as the current routine test for SLE. However, because the LE cell test is still performed in some laboratories, the authors compared the LE cell test with the ANA test to reevaluate the LE cell test. METHODS: A total of 522 cases were evaluated from Aug. 1990 to Aug. 1994. In these cases, the LE cell test and the ANA test were performed simultaneously, and the results were compared. The authors defined the 'True LE Phenomenon' as only when the LE cell test results agreed with the anti-histone antibody pattern of the ANA test. RESULTS: Of the total 522 cases, 56 cases(10.7%) were SLE. The LE cell test was positive in 22 cases(39.3%) and the ANA test in 56 cases(100%). The LE cell test produced 6(27%) false positive cases and 3 (8.8%) false negative cases. Therefore, the sensitivity of the LE cell test that was verified by the ANA test was only 28.6%. On the other hand, the sensitivity of the ANA test was 100%. In 2 cases, the LE cell results were different in repetitive tests although the ANA results were the same. In 2 other cases, it was impossible to interprete the results of the LE cell test because of severe leukopenia. CONCLUSIONS: The authors concluded that the LE cell test showed markedly low sensitivity and a high false positive and false negative rates for SLE, and that the LE cell test was difficult to perform and interpret accurately due to numerous interfering factors. Therefore, for accurate diagnosis of SLE, the LE cell test must be replaced by more definitive and quantitative immunologic tests in all laboratories such as the ANA test.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Hand ; Immunologic Tests ; Leukopenia ; Neutrophils*

BACKGROUND: Before the introduction of the antinuclear antibody test (ANA), the lupus erythematosus (LE) cell test was a useful diagnostic test for systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) But, the ANA test has replaced the LE cell test in virtually all laboratories as the current routine test for SLE. However, because the LE cell test is still performed in some laboratories, the authors compared the LE cell test with the ANA test to reevaluate the LE cell test. METHODS: A total of 522 cases were evaluated from Aug. 1990 to Aug. 1994. In these cases, the LE cell test and the ANA test were performed simultaneously, and the results were compared. The authors defined the 'True LE Phenomenon' as only when the LE cell test results agreed with the anti-histone antibody pattern of the ANA test. RESULTS: Of the total 522 cases, 56 cases(10.7%) were SLE. The LE cell test was positive in 22 cases(39.3%) and the ANA test in 56 cases(100%). The LE cell test produced 6(27%) false positive cases and 3 (8.8%) false negative cases. Therefore, the sensitivity of the LE cell test that was verified by the ANA test was only 28.6%. On the other hand, the sensitivity of the ANA test was 100%. In 2 cases, the LE cell results were different in repetitive tests although the ANA results were the same. In 2 other cases, it was impossible to interprete the results of the LE cell test because of severe leukopenia. CONCLUSIONS: The authors concluded that the LE cell test showed markedly low sensitivity and a high false positive and false negative rates for SLE, and that the LE cell test was difficult to perform and interpret accurately due to numerous interfering factors. Therefore, for accurate diagnosis of SLE, the LE cell test must be replaced by more definitive and quantitative immunologic tests in all laboratories such as the ANA test.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Hand ; Immunologic Tests ; Leukopenia ; Neutrophils*

No abstract available.
Carboxylesterase* ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute*

No abstract available.
Autoantibodies* ; Incidence* ; Interferon-gamma*

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a Gram negative spiral bacilli, is known to be the cause of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease and is strongly associated with gastric cancer. Therefore, the rapid detection of H. pylori infection is necessary for prevention and treatment. Of the diagnostic tests currently used, the serologic tests, which makes use of the immune response, do not need a biopsy specimen. This method is relatively accurate, rapid, simple and inexpensive. We re-evaluated the clinical usefulness of the isotypes of H. pylori (IgG, IgA, IgM) antibodies for the detection of H. pylori infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from 1,851 patients confirmed to have gastric or duodenal disease by gastric endoscopy from June, 1993 to December, 1994 at Hanyang University Hospital. The phenol-red urease test was done during endoscopy and the H-E stain on the gastric biopsies. Serologic tests (GAP Test IgG, IgA, IgM kits) were performed with patient sera. RESULTS: The sensitivities of the GAP EIA were 80% for IgG, 27% for IgA, and 85% for IgM. The specificities were 33%, 79%, and 14%, respectively. The detection rates of H. pylori were highest for the phenol-red urease test (88%), followed by IgM by ELISA (86%), IgG (72%), H-E stain (43%), and IgA (21%). The serum levels of IgG and IgA antibodies were higher in those with H. pylori infection than in those without, but there was no difference in IgM levels. And, no difference of serologic antibody levels according to disease state. Where follow-up was possible, the majority of IgG levels decreased, but IgA or IgM levels are not changed. CONCLUSION: A positive serologic test is incapable of discriminating between actual infection and normal bacterial colonization, or between recent and past infections. Therefore a serologic test seems unsatisfactory for confirming a diagnosis of H. pylori infection, but because the serial IgG levels of treated patients decreased significantly, we believe that this test may be used as an indirect means of assessing the response to therapy.
Antibodies ; Biopsy ; Colon ; Diagnosis* ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Duodenal Diseases ; Endoscopy ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Peptic Ulcer ; Serologic Tests ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Urease