Membranous nephropathy (MN), the most common cause of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in white adults, is characterized by an accumulation of immune deposits on the outer aspect of the glomerular basement membrane. In Heymann nephritis, the rat experimental model for MN, megalin--the target antigen of the nephritogenic antibodies--is expressed on the surface of podocytes, where immune complexes a...

Fetal/neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (F/NAIT) is the most frequent cause of haemorrhagic morbidity and mortality in otherwise healthy term infants and occurs in 1 in 1000 to 1 in 2000 pregnancies [1]. Maternal HPA-1a alloimmunization is responsible for the majority of NAIT [1], and only a few cases of NAIT caused by anti-HPA-3a have been published [2–4]. However, based on gene frequencies...

BACKGROUND Alloimmunization to antigens on transfused red blood cells (RBCs) represents a major barrier to chronic transfusion. In extreme cases of multiple alloimmunization, clinicians may be faced with the decision of transfusing incompatible RBCs or risking death from lack of transfusion. The disastrous results of hemolytic transfusion reactions are well understood, and major pathways of cle...

Fetal anemia, mainly due to red cell alloimmunization, is still a significant cause of fetal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. The focus of current clinical research has shifted from an invasive approach to non-invasive management and treatment of affected pregnancies, and the progress in this field is associated with a major improvement in perinatal outcome. During the last 50 years, intra...

BACKGROUND The RHD gene is highly polymorphic, which results in a large number of RhD variant phenotypes. Discrepancies in RhD typing are still a problem in blood banks and increase the risk of alloimmunization. In this study, the RhD typing strategy at a blood bank in Brazil was evaluated. METHODS One-hundred and fifty-two samples typed as RhD negative and C or E positive by routine tests (a...

BACKGROUND Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an inherited hemoglobin disorder characterized by chronic anemia and occasional crises. Clinical features are variable. While some individuals are relatively stable and rarely require blood transfusion, others often require blood transfusion. Multiple blood transfusion is associated with complications including alloimmunization, infections, and iron overlo...

To test the efficacy of poststorage bedside leucodepletion of blood products in the prevention of primary HLA alloimmunization and its clinical sequelae, 172 patients with hematologic malignancy requiring intensive red blood cell and platelet support were randomized to receive either standard or filtered red blood cells and platelets. Quality control of bedside filtration was explored by sequen...