It has long been recognized that iron-deficiency anaemia and pernicious anaemia may occur in members of the same family (Faber and Gram, 1924 ; Maclachlan and Kline, 1926 ; Witts, 1930; Kaufmann and Thiessen, 1939). There are also numerous reports of pernicious anaemia developing in patients with a previous history of iron-deficiency anaemia (Callender and Denborough, 1957). More recently, in a...

Dietary methionine (met) is reported to enhance antibody production and boost cell-mediated immunity in chickens. Methionine deficiency has been shown to affect the development of the lymphoid organs and the generation of antibodies in chickens. This study is designed to investigate the effects of met deficiency on IgA+ B cells and immunoglobulins (sIgA, IgA, IgG and IgM) for a 6 wee...

Multiple sclerosis is a common leading cause of disability worldwide. CD20-expressing B cells play major role in multiple pathogenesis. Hence, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies effectively deplete mainly by complement-dependent cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cell-mediated phagocytosis, and cellular cytotoxicity. While the precise etiology remains unknown, it now recognized that environment...

Hereditary deficiencies of early complement components have usually been associated with the development of rheumatic diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), while terminal component deficiency is well known to predispose to recurrent neisserial infection. In contrast, only recently have patients been reported with rheumatic disease and hereditary deficiency of a terminal component. T...

The review of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis by Smith elegantly highlights the lack of evidence available in some areas. In particular, approach to immunological testing is varied. Table 2 on page 134 in this review describes the diagnostic features required for immunodeficiency (including immunoglobulin G [IgG] subclass 2 deficiency amongst other IgG subclass deficiencies). However, IgG su...