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Aim. To ascertain informative value of immunological diagnosis of B19 parvovirus in combination with polymerase chain reaction (PCR); to analyse frequency of development of secondary autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) in immunodeficient patients as a result of virus persistence - persistent infection eliminated only by treatment causing suppression of erythropoiesis. Material and methods. B19 parvovirus detection was performed in blood serum of 207 subjects: 144 patients with anemia (Hb < 100 g/1) and 500 blood donors. DNA of parvovirus B19 was detected in the sera by PCR, antibodies to this virus - by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). IgG, IgM, IgA and components of compliment Clq, C3 on the surface of erythrocytes were detected by EIA in anemic patients. Results. Parvovirus infection was registered in 30% patients, in 70% the infection was persistent. The latter were diagnosed to have secondary AIHA. Conclusion. Combined application of PCR and EIA extends potentialities of diagnosis of infection caused by B19 parvovirus. Persistence of the parvovirus provokes onset of symptomatic hemolytic anemia in immunodeficient patients.

Aim. To make differential diagnosis of thymic hyperplasia and mediastinal tumor after chemotherapy (CT) in patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD). Material and methods. The examination of 182 HD patients aged 16-71 years (median 28 years) included chest x-ray computed tomography (XCT) at baseline, during treatment, each 3 months, ultrasound investigation of the chest and abdominal cavity. All the patients received 6-8 courses of the treatment according to the program BEACOPP-14 followed by radiotherapy on the residual tumor in 137 patients, or not followed in 45 patients. Results. Soft tissue tumor in the anterior mediastinum was detected in 14 (31%) from 45 unirradiated patients (age 19-31 years, median 24 years) 1 to 10 months (median 3.5 months) after chemotherapy. The analysis of the data of ultrasound investigation and tomography identified a mediastinal lesion as thymic hyperplasia. The patients are now in remission with follow-up median 21 months (13-36 months). No recurrence was registered. Conclusion. Young HD patients with unirradiated mediastinum develop thymic hyperplasia in 31% cases within one year after chemotherapy. In view of this, detection of the lesion in the anterior mediastinum after CT demands complex examination for differential diagnosis of thymic hyperplasia with tumor recurrence to avoid unwanted intensification of the treatment.