No abstract

We report a new platelet antigen (Yuka) defined by the sera of 2 mothers whose babies developed alloimmune thrombocytopenia. These antiplatelet antibodies were IgG detected by Mixed Passive Hemagglutination (MPHA). In the study of two families, the Yuka antigen was found to be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. The frequency of the Yuka phenotype in the Japanese population was estimated to be 1.7% (5/300).

No abstract

We have studied the effect of extradural compliance and extradural resistance on the spread of extradural analgesia. In 111 patients aged 21-75 yr, compliance and resistance of the extradural space were calculated by a mathematical analysis (using the Windkessel theory) of the extradural pressure-response curve to injection of a given volume of local anaesthetic. The calculated mean extradural compliance was 0.39 (SD 0.13) ml mm Hg-1 and this increased with advancing age (P less than 0.01). The total number of analgesic segments blocked was related to extradural compliance (P less than 0.01). Segmental dose requirement was related inversely to extradural compliance (P less than 0.01). Calculated extradural resistance was 26.8 (14.5) mm Hg s ml-1 and this decreased with advancing age (P less than 0.05). The total number of analgesic segments blocked was related inversely to extradural resistance (P less than 0.05). Segmental dose requirement was related to extradural resistance (P less than 0.05).

We report a new platelet antigen (Yukb) involved in a case of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAITP). This antigen is considered to be a product of an allele of the Yuk gene, another allele of which codes for Yuka which was involved in 2 cases of NAITP. The Yuka and Yukb antigens are not expressed on thrombasthenic platelets which suggests that these antigens are present on platelet glycoprotein IIb and/or IIIa. The gene frequencies for Yuka and Yukb in the Japanese population were estimated to be 0.0083 and 0.9917, respectively.