Littoral cell angioma (LCA) is a rare benign tumour of the spleen. We describe a patient with aplastic anaemia who, following multiple treatments with rabbit and horse Anti-Thymocyte Globulin and anabolic steroids developed marked splenomegaly and hypersplenism. LCA was diagnosed post splenectomy. This is the first case of LCA associated with aplastic anaemia and its treatment.

Recently published paper by Haller and coworkers in Journal of Clinical Investigation reported that a combination of low-dose anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and pegylated granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) may preserve β-cell function in patients with established type 1 diabetes.

Polyclonal anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) is used as an immunosuppressive agent in the treatment of aplastic anemia (AA). Serum sickness is a recognized side effect of ATG. We observed abnormal skin manifestation in patient with aplastic anemia who had been treated with ATG. We conclude that abnormal immune function caused by aplastic anemia and ATG and corticosteroids may aggravate the signs of...

Ipilimumab is a human monoclonal IgG1 antibody against CTLA-4 that has been shown to prolong the overall survival of advanced melanoma. The most common adverse events associated with ipilimumab are immune-related. Severe hematological toxicity is rare. We report a case of severe neutropenia following ipilimumab therapy that fully resolved after the administration of prednisone, cyclosporine, an...

BACKGROUND Thymoglobulin® (anti-thymocyte globulin [rabbit]) is a purified pasteurised, gamma immune globulin obtained by immunisation of rabbits with human thymocytes. Anaphylactic allergic reactions to a first injection of thymoglobulin are rare. CASE PRESENTATION We report a case of serious anaphylactic reaction occurring after a first intraoperative injection of thymoglobulin during renal...

SIR, The detailed study of aggressive immunosuppressive treatment of scleroderma by Stratton et al. [1] is of great interest. Certainly novel approaches are justified in a rheumatic disease which has proved resistant to all forms of treatment. Indeed my colleagues and I instituted a similar trial of anti-thymocyte in combination with other immunosuppressive drugs which was reported in a confere...

We have previously shown that laminin-5 is expressed in the human thymic medulla, in which mature thymocytes are located. We now report that laminin-5 promotes migration of mature medullary thymocytes, whereas it has no effect on cortical immature thymocytes. Migration was inhibited by blocking mAbs directed against laminin-5 integrin receptors and by inhibitors of metalloproteinases. Interacti...