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Background Previous reports, all concerning pulsatile devices, have indicated an increased risk of development of circulating antileukocyte antigen (HLA; human leukocyte antigen) antibodies during ventricular assist device (VAD) support. We investigated sensitization in patients implanted with the DeBakey VAD (MicroMed Technology, Inc, Houston, TX) axial flow pump as a bridge to heart transplantation. Methods Inclusion criteria for this prospective study were the following. Patients implanted with the DeBakey VAD axial flow pump, without HLA antibodies prior to implantation, with a duration of support of at least one month. The HLA antibody testing for IgG and IgM class I and II antibodies was performed weekly during support, using both a complement dependant cytotoxicity assay and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Retrospective cross match was performed for all patients transplanted. The occurrence of graft rejection was determined by regular endomyocardial biopsies after heart transplantation, graded according to the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) guidelines. Additionally, the transfusion history was reviewed for all patients. Results Fourteen patients were included representing 1,220 cumulative patient-days of support (mean duration time on support, 87 days). No patient developed detectable IgG antibodies to class I or II. One patient had a positive ELISA, corresponding to nonsignificant (6/30) class I IgM antibodies at 3 weeks postimplantation. Ten patients underwent successful heart transplantation, representing 156 cumulative months. No retrospective cross match was positive. The percentage of significant acute rejection episodes (ISHLT grade 3A or more) was 6% and 4.3% in the first 6 months and from 6 to 12 months, respectively. No vascular rejection was noted. The posttransplantation survival rate was 87% at 6 months and 75% at 1 year, respectively. Conclusions Patients implanted with the DeBakey VAD axial flow pump as a bridge to heart transplantation do not appear to be exposed to an increased risk of sensitization.

Objective. To determine mortality and morbidity at discharge from the hospital of a large population-based cohort of infants who were born at ≤26 weeks' gestation. Methods. Perinatal data were collected on extremely preterm infants who were alive at the onset of labor and born between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2000, in all 19 Belgian perinatal centers. Results. A total of 525 infants were recorded. Life-supporting care was provided to 322 liveborn infants, 303 of whom were admitted for intensive care. The overall survival rate of liveborn infants was 54%. Of the infants who were alive at the age of 7 days, 82% survived to discharge. Vaginal delivery, shorter gestation, air leak, longer ventilator dependence, and higher initial oxygen need all were independently associated with death; gender, plurality, and surfactant therapy were not. Among the 175 survivors, 63% had 1 or more of the 3 major adverse outcome variables at the time of discharge (serious neuromorbidity, chronic lung disease at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age, or treated retinopathy of prematurity). The chance of survival free from serious neonatal morbidity at the time of hospital discharge was Conclusions. If for the time being prolongation of pregnancy is unsuccessful, then outcome perspectives should be discussed and treatment options including nonintervention explicitly be made available to parents of infants of

Renal transplantation in patients presenting end-stage renal failure can be hampered by the presence of alloantibodies against HLA antigens. In 4 out of 5 patients with HLA-specific alloantibodies waiting for a renal allograft, treatment with high-dose i.v. Ig resulted in a prolonged suppression (over 3 months) of most of the panel-reactive anti-HLA antibodies (PRA). Intravenous polyclonal human Ig (IVIg) and F(ab')2 fragments from IVIg inhibited the binding of patients' plasma and IgG fractions to peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal donors as well as their cytotoxicity, suggesting that the in vivo effect of IVIg was mediated by the presence, in the IVIg preparation, of anti-idiotypes directed against idiotypes borne on the anti-HLA antibodies. Thus, treatment with IVIg can be a valuable tool toward the transplantation of immunized patients.

Based on the capacity to transfer alpha-L-fucose onto type-1 and type-2 synthetic blood group H and sialylated acceptors, a comparison of the alpha-3-fucosyltransferase activities of different human tissues is shown. Three distinct acceptor specificity patterns are described: (I) myeloid alpha-3-fucosyltransferase pattern, in which leukocytes and brain enzymes transfer fucose actively onto H type-2 acceptor and poorly onto sialylated N-acetyllactosamine: (II) plasma alpha-3-fucosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.152), in which plasma and hepatocyte enzymes transfer, in addition, onto the sialylated N-acetyllactosamine; (III) Lewis alpha-3 4-fucosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.65), in which gall-bladder kidney and milk enzymes transfer, in addition, onto type-1 acceptors. The small amount (less than 10%) of alpha-3-fucosyltransferase activity found in the plasma of an alpha-3-fucosyltransferase-deficient individual had a myeloid-type acceptor pattern, suggesting that this small proportion of the plasma enzyme is derived from leukocytes. In addition to the three acceptor specificity patterns, these enzyme activities can be differentiated by their optimum pH: 8.0-8.7 for the enzymes from myeloid cells and brain. 7.2-8.0 for liver enzymes and 6.0-7.2 for gallbladder enzymes. Milk samples had two alpha-3-fucosyltransferase activities, the Lewis or alpha-3/4-fucosyltransferase under control of the Lewis gene and an alpha-3-fucosyltransferase with plasma acceptor pattern which was independent of the control of the Lewis gene. The apparent affinity for GDP-fucose of the myeloid-like enzyme was weaker than those of the plasma and Lewis-like enzymes. The apparent affinities for H type 2 and sialylated N-acetyllactosamine were stronger for exocrine secretions as compared to the plasma and myeloid enzymes. The plasma type of alpha-3-fucosyltransferase activity was more sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide and heat inactivation than the samples with myeloid-like alpha-3-fucosyltransferase activity.

We used a panel of reagents, polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, and lectins to define the expression of the ABH- and Lewis-related specificities on platelets and lymphocytes. We also determined the expression of the alpha 2- and alpha 3-L-fucosyltransferases necessary for their biosynthesis. The antigens that could be detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis were based on type 2 monofucosylated structures. Antibodies directed toward types 1, 3, and 4 ABH-, X- and Lewis-related antigenic determinants were always negative because the small amounts of ABH and Lewis antigens adsorbed from the serum could not be detected by these techniques. The presence of the type 2 ABH antigens on intrinsic glycoproteins was controlled by the H gene. This correlates with the presence of alpha 2-L- fucosyltransferase and the absence of alpha 3-L-fucosyltransferase on platelets. In contrast, ABH antigens were not detected by immunofluorescence on normal peripheral lymphocytes. These cells thus have only the small amounts of antigens adsorbed from the serum, these being under control of the secretor and Lewis genes. This correlates with the absence of alpha 2-L-fucosyltransferase on lymphocytes. When lymphocytes were transformed in vitro by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), however, they strongly expressed the X and sialylated X antigens, which are specific markers of normal granulocytes and monocytes, respectively. Treatment of EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-O-acetate significantly decreased the expression of X and sialylated X antigens along with that of surface immunoglobulins, whereas it induced a significant expression of the H antigen under control of the H gene.

Two monoclonal antibodies, specific for A type 3 and A type 4 blood group determinants, are described. These antibodies recognized A1 but not A2 erythrocytes. A third monoclonal antibody showing specificity for A type 3 and A type 4, and also for H type 3 and H type 4, did not discriminate between A1 and A2 erythrocytes. On red cells these three antibodies recognized glycosphingolipids and binding to glycoproteins could not be demonstrated. On paraffin-embedded tissue sections the three antibodies labelled a supranuclear area, characteristic of the Golgi apparatus, of all cells producing A antigens. This labelling occurred irrespective of the A1, A2 status.

Excerpt To the Editor:Combined therapy with prednisone and low doses of aspirin has been reported to reduce the risk for fetal loss in women with the lupus anticoagulant (1, 2). We report a case in...