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C Politis

Publications and source records attributed to C Politis.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Partial splenic embolization in the management of thalassemia major.

Six patients with beta-thalassemia major underwent partial splenic embolization as an alternative to splenectomy. One patient required 2 embolizations. All 6 patients showed a marked reduction in transfusion requirements. Transfusion requirements fell to a level within that reported by other authors following total splenectomy, although significantly above that of a group of patients from the same institution who underwent total splenectomy. It is felt that this procedure provides an acceptable alternative to splenectomy in these patients with the possible preservation of some splenic immune function.

Adolescent↗

Latent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections affect immunoglobulin levels of patients with thalassemia major.

The serum levels of IgG, IgA and IgM were measured by radial immunodiffusion in 247 patients with beta-thalassemia major (106 nonsplenectomized and 141 splenectomized) aged between and 5 and 35 years, and in 407 healthy controls. The results were analyzed in relation to the presence of total and/or IgM antibodies against CMV in the sera, as determined by enzyme immunoassay. A statistically significant variation in IgM levels was observed between the seronegatives and the different groups of seropositives (those with recent and those with prior CMV infections) within nonsplenectomized and splenectomized thalassemic patients, as well as within controls. Among seronegative individuals, no significant differences in the levels of immunoglobulins were observed, either between nonsplenectomized and splenectomized thalassemics or between each one of these groups and the controls. On the contrary, when the above mentioned groups of patients and controls appeared with recent or old CMV infections, they presented significantly different levels of immunoglobulins. It is concluded that latent CMV infections are responsible, at least in part, for the disagreement between various published studies concerning the levels of circulating immunoglobulins in patients with thalassemia major.

Adolescent↗