[Research on Au antigen by radioimmunologic method: retrospective study on 2491 transfusions]

The AA. have researched Au antigen by solid phase radioimmunoassay technique (RIA) in 2491 sera kept in freezer and relative to as many transfusions made in the 7 previous months and already selected for Au antigen by electrosyneresis. In base of the retrospective analysis, the AA. noticed that 82 patients had received 91 RIA positive transfusions. Precise clinical news could be collected on 50 patients, while laboratory tests relative to Au antigen and transaminase were carried out on 42 patients. In this group there were 4 Au positive ictero-hepatitises and 4 probable hepatitises with only change of transaminase without Au antigen. Two patients showed the presence of Au antigen only. In the control sample of 50 patients who have received the same number of RIA negative transfusions, the AA. found a moderate alteration of transaminase in 2 patients. Three patients showed the presence of Au antigen without any alteration. The Authors have also determined both the relationship between Au positive transfusions and the hepatitises which were observed afterwards, and the possible reasons for the low incidence of hepatitises related to the number of Au positive transfusions.