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R Lenkei

Publications and source records attributed to R Lenkei.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Anti-albumin antibodies in chronic liver diseases: diagnostic significance of these antibodies in patients with conventional or immunosuppressive therapy.

The two categories of anti-albumin antibodies (AAA), namely precipitins (AA-P) and agglutinins (AA-Aggl), were investigated in 260 patients with morphologically diagnosed chronic liver diseases (CLD). A parallelism was observed between AA-P titre and the severity of chronic hepatitis as revealed by clinical diagnosis. Thus, significant differences in AA-P titre were noticed between chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) and chronic aggressive hepatitis (CAH) and between CAH and liver cirrhosis (LC). No correlation was found between AA-P positivity and either HBsAg presence or disease activity, maximum AA-P values being registered in decompensated, inactive LC. AA-P positivity was found associated with a higher degree of liver cell dysfunction. In every category of CLD a striking association was also observed between AA-P positivity and raised serum aspartate transaminase and bilirubin levels, thus suggesting a common pathogenic substrate, namely liver cell membrane damage. These correlations were also observed after immunosuppressive therapy which would argue for the maintenance of AA-P diagnostic value. AA-Aggl showed raised incidences and titres in CAH patients, the values decreasing in LC. Therefore, the main diagnostic value is attributed to AA-P.

Agglutinins↗

Deeper insight into HBsAg--anti-albumin antibody correlations.

The presence and titers of anti-albumin antibodies (AAA)--ie, precipitins (AA-IP) and agglutinins (AA-Aggl)--and the serum concentrations of immunoglobulins and albumin were determined in 210 asymptomatic carriers of HBsAg grouped according to HBsAg titer and subtype. A different immunologic pattern was observed in the HBsAg/ad and HBsAg/ay carriers, the results suggesting an increased aggressivity for the HBsAg/ay subtype which was evident in subjects with lower HBs antigenemia and characterized by higher concentrations of IgG and IgM and rises in AA-P titers. A positive linear correlation was found between HBsAg and AA-Aggl titers; the carriage of HBsAg/ad was associated with significant higher values of AA-Aggl than of HBsAg/ay. These subtle correlations between HBsAg titer and subtype and AAA suggest that the human serum albumin (HSA) known to exist on the HBsAg particles may be similar in a modified form, to that representing AAA specificity.

Adult↗

Receptors for polymerized albumin on liver cells.

By the use of rabbit polymerized albumin labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate, or coated on sheep red blood cells, specific receptors on rabbit liver cells were demonstrated. The possible biological role of these receptors is discussed.

Animals↗

Correlations between anti-albumin antibodies and HBsAG in hepatic patients.

A new category of autoantibodies--antipolymerized albumin antibodies (AAA)--was discovered in 1974. Studies performed from 1974 to 1976 showed their diagnosis and prognostic values in hepatic diseases; the AAA tests [immunodiffusion (ID) and hemagglutination (HS)] made possible a good estimation of the total liver cell function. Without being specific for a viral hepatitis B infection, highly significant linear correlations were found for AAA precipitin and agglutinin positivities with presence of HBsAg. High titre of AAA agglutinins unaccompanied by a positive ID test, characterise the "healthy carrier" of the HBsAg, while the isolated AAA positivity in ID is met in more severe, long-standing hepatic diseases.

Acute Disease↗

Methods for detection of anti-albumin autoantibodies in hepatic diseases.

Three methods for detection and quantitation of anti-albumin autoantibodies (AAA) in human sera have been developed based on their reaction with a new antigenic site of glutaraldehyde-polymerized human serum albumin (HSA). The first is a double diffusion technique (ID-HSA) were the sera to be tested are reacted with a copolymer of glutaraldehyde activated HSA (copoly-HSA). The reaction is estimated by the lowest copoly HSA concentration giving precipitation with the undiluted sera. The second method is based on agglutination (HA) by AAA positive sera of human red blood cells coated with glutaraldehyde-polymerized HSA (EPA). The reaction is quantified as the highest dilution of sera giving agglutination. The third method uses glutaraldehyde insolubilized HSA as an immunoadorbent able to bind AAA in positive sera. The quantity of protein adsorbed, expessed in microng antibody/ml serum, measures the level of AAA in sera. Significant correlation between the values of AAA as determined by all three methods presented above were recorded.

Acute Disease↗

Urinary excretion of albumin and beta 2-microglobulin in a population from an area where Balkan nephropathy is endemic.

The urinary excretion of albumin and beta 2-microglobulin in a population of 294 persons, living in an area where Balkan nephropathy is endemic, has been studied. In fifty-six (about 19%) of the subjects the beta 2-microglobulin concentration was above the +2 SD level for a reference group of healthy individuals from non-endemic areas. Albumin elevation was found in forty-four (about 15%) of the cases. In twenty-one of the subjects the urinary concentration of both beta 2-microglobulin and albumin were increased, in sixteen of these cases the relationship between the two proteins was consistent with tubular proteinuria. An increased beta 2-microglobulin excretion is considered to be a sign of Balkan nephropathy. Radioimmunoassay of the protein is sensitive enough to detect tubular proteinuria at an early stage and is suggested as a suitable screening test for the disease.

Adolescent↗

ABO blood groups and HBs AG subtypes and titers in healthy carriers.

The investigation covered 457 'healthy' HBsAg carriers detected following a screening by CEP. HBsAg in the sera of these subjects were subtyped by ID and titrated by CEP. The results obtained were analyzed according to the cases investigated. Differences were found between the distribution of blood groups among the normal unselected population and among 'healthy' carriers, where the incidence of AB subjects was much higher. The difference was more marked for the carriers of HBsAg/ad.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

Autoantibodies detected in rabbits hyperimmunized with group A, C, and G streptococcal vaccines.

Rabbits hyperimmunized with group A, C, and G streptococcal vaccines developed autoantibodies with affinities for different tissues (smooth muscle, cytoplasmic, and myocardial antibodies) and for autologous proteins (anti-albumin and anti-immunoglobulin antibodies). The presence of anti-albumin and smooth muscle antibodies, associated with a high level of immunoglobulin, suggests the development of hepatic disorders in the hyperimmunized rabbits.

Animals↗

Some particularities of hepatitis B-antigen subdeterminants.

From 200 acute viral hepatitis patients serum samples were collected successively, at various intervals. In 192 patients one single hepatitis B-antigen (HB-Ag) subdeterminant ("ad" in 37.6% and "ay" in 62.4% of the cases) occurred and persisted during the entire course of the disease. The remained 8 patients (4%) showed an alternation of HB-Ag subdeterminants. The possible causes of this alternation are discussed in detail.

Epitopes↗

[Hepatitis beta-antigen titer and subtypes of acute and chronic hepatitis].

The incidence of the hepatitis B antigen (HBSAg) in the sera of 650 acute virus hepatitis (AVH) and 200 chronic hepatitis (CH) patients was determined by screening test (counter-immunoelectrophoresis and immunodiffusion). The findings showed a positivity in 28% of the acute virus hepatitis patients and in 47% of the chronic hepatitides. Further, the detected HB Ag was investigated both quantitatively (titer) and qualitatively (subtype). The results obtained have shown the absence of differences in the HB Ag-titer distribution of the two groups investigated and the prevalence of the HBSAg/ayw subdeterminant in both groups (62% in AVH and 57% in CH patients).

Acute Disease↗

Anti-polymerized albumin antibodies-a test for the evaluation of hepatic function in HBs Ag-positive subjects.

A number of 681 sera collected from hepatic patients and apparently healthy subjects (recruits and blood donors) were tested by immunodiffusion (ID) and hemagglutination (HA) for the presence of anti-polymerized albumin antibodies (AAA). AAA positivity was compared within the categories of patients and healthy subjects, grouped according to the presence of HBsAg. In most of the hepatic patients and healthy subjects both ID and HA were either positive or negative. However, in certain apparently healthy HGsAg carriers, the absence of AAA in ID was associated with high AAA titers in HA. These data point to the possibility of using AAA in order to differentiate an actually healthy HGsAg carrier from a HBsAg carrier with hepatic lesions.

Autoantibodies↗