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Biomedical subjects

F Invernizzi

Publications and source records attributed to F Invernizzi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Defective suppressor cell activity in essential mixed cryoglobulinemia.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia were investigated for the ability to induce suppressor cell activity (S.C.A.) following in vitro exposure to Concanavalin A (Con A). The generation of Con A-S.C.A. is significantly impaired in essential mixed cryoglobulinemia compared to the healthy controls. No correlation was found between Con A-S.C.A. and the clinical or laboratory parameters of the disease. This impaired ability to induce Con A-S.C.A. in essential mixed cryoglobulinemia reflects a functional T-cell defect, which may play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Adult↗

Phagocytic function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in essential mixed cryoglobulinaemia.

We have studied the phagocytic function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes obtained from 16 patients with essential mixed cryoglobulinaemia and 16 normal subjects, utilizing three different experimental models. The in vitro phagocytosis of Candida albicans by polymorphonuclear leukocytes obtained from the patients in the presence of autologous serum was subnormal as compared with controls (p less than 0.002). The neutrophil defect appeared to be cellular since: a) no effect of the patient's serum on the phagocytic capacity of normal neutrophils was demonstrable; b) the defect was not reversed when normal AB serum was used as opsonin source. The polymorphonuclear leukocytes from the same patients ingested IgG-coated sheep red blood cells to a significant higher degree than normals (p less than 0.002) when tested in patient's serum free-medium. Finally, no differences between patients and controls were observed on the basis of latex uptake. A possible explanation for these contradictory results is discussed.

Adult↗

[Cryoglobulinemia syndrome and liver diseases. Case reports].

Six cases of an association of liver disease with a cryoglobulinaemia syndrome are described. An account of their clinical, body fluid and anatomopathological pictures is followed by a discussion of their possible causes in the light of the relevant literature. It is felt that no assessment can be made of the primary nature of either disease in associations of this kind. In addition to cases in which prior liver disease or exposure to hepatitis virus can be shown, in fact, there are other situations in which liver disease was present before the manifestation of cryoglobulinaemia. Repeated antigen stimulus triggers the antibody response leading to the formation of cryoprecipitating complexes. In most cases, the nature of such antigen is not known, since HB virus or any other virus, bacterial product, or cell catabolism product either eliminated in insufficient quantities, or produced in abnormal quantities, may be responsible.

Adult↗

A long-term follow-up study in essential cryoglobulinemia.

In a case series of 56 patients with essential cryoglobulinemia, 35 were followed-up for 4-13 years (mean 7 years). A membranous proliferative glomerulonephritis, which in about half the cases showed a progression to renal insufficiency, was the commonest complication, observed in more than one third of the patients. In 2 patients hepatic cirrhosis became manifest after a completely asymptomatic period and in 2 others a lymphoproliferative disease appeared 2 and 8 years after the onset of purpura. In 51% of patients the intial clinical pattern did not change. In searching for a correlation between the development of nephropathy and cryoglobulin characteristics, none was demonstrated studying the cryoglobulin level, the presence of autoantibody and the complement components.

Adolescent↗

T cell defect in essential mixed cryoglobulinaemia.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from untreated patients with essential cryoglobulinaemia were studied for their surface markers and for their in vitro mitogenic reactivity. No differences in lymphocyte subpopulations were observed between cryoglobulinaemic patients and normal controls. Cultures of separated lymphocytes were stimulated with different concentrations of phytohaemagglutinin, Con-A and pokeweed mitogen. Incorporation of [3H]-thymidine in patients' cultures was compared with that of normal controls. Significantly decreased reactivity to phytohaemagglutinin and Con-A, but not to pokeweed mitogen, was found in all patients studied. The depressed mitogenic reactivity to phytohaemagglutinin and Con-A might be referred to a qualitative T cell defect.

Adult↗

Acquired C1-inhibitor deficiency in essential cryoglobulinemia and macrocryoglobulinemia.

In 5 patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia, 3 with Waldenström's disease and 2 with essential cryoglobulinemia, a C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency was discovered. The complement profile was characteristic of the acquired type: the total hemolytic activity and the early components were reduced, C3 was diminished in 1 patient only, C5 and C9 were normal or elevated. 1 atient with Waldenström's disease and 1 with essential cryoglobulinemia experienced episodes of angioedema. Circulating immune complexes were found in all patients' sera by the 125I-radiolabelled C1q binding activity (C1q BA) test. The values of the C1q binding activity were correlated with the depletion of the early complement components and that of C1-inh. 4 patients showed circulating 7S IgM. Our data support the hypothesis of a complement activation by the cryoprecipitating immune complexes; the C1-INH depletion is secondary to its consumption following C1 activation.

Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins↗

Anti-gamma-globulin activity, DNA and antibodies to DNA in nonlupoind cryoglobulinemias.

Anti-gamma-globulin activity, free DNA, and DNA binding were studied in 19 cryoglobulinemias: 8 patients with Waldenström's disease (WD), 9 patients with essential cryoglobulinemia (EC), and 2 with chronic aggressive hepatitis (CAH). Antihuman gamma-globulin activity was detected in all sera and dissolved cryoprecipitates but two from EC and one from the CAH group. By diphenylamine assay we found DNA in two sera from WD and in one serum and cryoprecipitate from EC. An antibody to denaturated DNA was shown only in sera from the two patients with CAH and from one patient with EC. Nonspecific binding was more frequent.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗

[Immune complexes DNA-anti-DNA during the course of mixed cryoglobulinemia].

Plasma and isolated cryoglobulins from ten patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia were studied for the presence of DNA using the diphenylamine reagent test. DNA-like material was detected in all the plasmas tested and it was also present in nine of the isolated cryoglobulins. IgM and IgG components of three cryoglobulins were purified by gel-filtration: anti-DNA activity was detected in IgG fraction (two cases), in IgM and IgG (one case); antigammaglobulin activity was always found in IgM fraction.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗

Anti-IgA antibodies in two brothers with selective serum IgA deficiency.

A selective serum IgA deficiency with anti-IgA antibodies at high titer were found in a patient who suffered severe transfusion reactions. The same abnormalities were detected in his brother, a 72-year-old-man in good general condition. Anti-IgA antibodies were found in the IgG fraction and were directed against alpha-chains. A deficiency of isoagglutinins and an absence of heteroagglutinins in the propositus' serum could be shown.

Aged↗