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The article presents questions and answers related to red blood cells for patients who are negative for a high-frequency antigen including the definition of a rare donor, problems encountered in finding compatible red blood cells (RBC) for patients, and whether countries have a national panel of rare donors and/or a national bank of frozen (RBC) units from such donors.

Mixed cryoglobulinaemia is associated strikingly with HCV infection. The aim of this study was to assess whether the adherence to proper methods of collecting samples for cryoglobulin detection was critical or not on virological parameters in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. We studied 56 consecutive patients. Blood samples were collected using a conventional method and a blood collection method at 37°C adapted to cryoglobulin detection. HCV core antigen and HCV RNA were measured in sera and cryoglobulins issued from both blood collection methods. In cryoglobulin-positive patients, serum concentrations of HCV core antigen, but not that of HCV RNA, were significantly higher when a conventional method was used, compared to a blood collection method at 37°C ( P = 0·001). In the cryoprecipitates, concentration of HCV core antigen was optimum when the blood collection method at 37°C, rather than the conventional method, was applied for cryoglobulin detection ( P < 10−4). The recovery of HCV core antigen in the cryoprecipitate was improved when cryoglobulins were isolated using the blood collection method at 37°C rather than the conventional method ( P < 0·001). HCV parameter measurements and cryoglobulin study should not be performed on the same serum samples due to the potential impact of blood collection methods on results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Isolated sinusoidal dilatation is an uncommon hepatic lesion and the cause is largely unknown. Objective: To investigate whether prothrombotic disorders or perisinusoidal cell changes could be involved in pure idiopathic hepatic sinusoidal dilatation (HSD). Methods: Evaluation for associated conditions, prothrombotic disorders, and studies of hepatic perisinusoidal cell activation in consecutive patients, seen between 1993 and 2002, with isolated sinusoidal dilatation unrelated to outflow block, sinusoidal infiltration, or hepatic granulomas. Results:Among 11 patients, associated conditions were prothrombotic disorders (n = 5) and oral contraceptive use (n = 3). Prothrombotic disorders were polycythemia vera (n = 1) and anticardiolipin antibodies combined with lupus anticoagulant (n = 4). No genetic thrombophilia factor was found. Of four patients with lupus anticoagulant, three had antinuclear factors and high serum levels of anticardiolipin antibodies at repeated testing. There was no evidence of intrahepatic or extrahepatic thrombosis in any of the patients. Sinusoidal dilatation was marked in six of 11 patients (54%), including two patients with antiphospholipid antibodies. Activated perisinusoidal cells were only found around markedly dilated sinusoids. Conclusion: Idiopathic pure HSD is frequently associated with the immunological features of the antiphospholipid syndrome. Therefore, finding pure HSD in a liver biopsy specimen should prompt the search for antiphospholipid antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]