HLA antigens in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

10 patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria were studied taking 109 normal subjects of the Cuban population as control group. 26 HLA antigens corresponding to loci A and B were studied in both groups. Phenotypical frequency of both groups were compared. No statistically significant increase was found for any of the studied antigens, though there was a nonsignificant increase for antigens HLA-B7 and BW-21. These results might be influenced by the small number of patients studied due to the rareness of the disease.

Immunologic dysfunction in Sickle cell anaemia

Selected cellular immune parameters were studied in 20 patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA). A moderate absolute lymphocytes was observed in SCA patients compared with the control group. There was no significant difference between patients and controls in the mean E-rosette percentage and absolute number. PHA transformation was decreased in 50% of SCA patients, and some of them showed cutaneous anergy. It was suggested that imparied cell-mediated immunity is another factor to be included among defective SCA host-defense mechanism.