Flow cytometric techniques are precious tools for investigating the activation of the humoral response against HLA antigens of the graft in renal transplantation. DS-Abs production has a worse impact on organ function and survival than ARj episodes. These findings represent further proof of the threat posed by DS-Abs on long-term graft function and draw attention to the need for a specific immunosuppressive therapy aimed at counteracting the different kinds of immune activation toward graft.

This study showed a low risk of donor-recipient CPE transmission, indicating that donor CPE colonization does not necessarily represent a contraindication for donation unless colonization regards the organ to be transplanted. Donor and recipient screening remains essential to prevent CPE transmission and cross-infection in transplantation centres.

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SYNOPSISThe subpopulations of T-lymphocytes and monocytes were studied in 21 Episodic Cluster Headache (ECH) patients, both in and out of the crisis. The following MoAb of the Becton-Dickinson series were used: Leu1 (pan T cells), Leu2a (suppressor/cytotoxic cells), Leu3a (helper cells), Leu7 (NK cells) and LeuM3 (monocytes). All the subjects were typed for the HLA-A,B,C and DR antigens of the Human Major Histocompatibility Complex. 10 patients out of 21 were DR5+. Thus, two groups could be distinguished: DR5 + patients and DR5-patients. We correlated the variations of the leukocyte subpopulations in and out of the crises with the two groups, since HLA-DR antigens are related to the immune response.A significant increase of the LeuM3 + cells during the crisis was observed in DR5-group (26.2 ± 7.7 vs 18.3 ± 7.1; p < 0.05). In the DR5 + group there was an increase of the Leu7 + cells during the crisis (18.1 ± 6.7 vs 12.7 ± 4.9; p < 0.05) whereas outside of the crisis the LeuM3 + subpopulation increased (21.9 ± 7.6 vs 18.3 ± 7.1; p < 0.02) in the same group. The observed values of the leukocyte subpopulations studied (difference between the data of crisis and out of it) in the two groups were not significantly different.These data confirm our previous studies on Leu7+ and LeuM3 + subsets in ECH patients. Moreover, they allow new speculation about a possible role of Class II antigens (HLA-DR) in ECH. (Headache 27:35-38, 1987)

SYNOPSIS Our recent work focused on some immunological aspects of CH patients. We found a decrease in the expression of HLA‐B14 antigen on lymphocytes of these patients. In previous studies, we showed that testosterone plasma levels are low in these patients during the crises. It is possible to postulate a correlation between the variation of some hormonal parameter and changes of circulating leukocytes subsets (as in pregnancy and in the pre‐eclamptic syndrome). The following lymphocyte and monocyte subsets were studied using the monoclonal antibodies of Becton Dickinson series: Leu1 +, Leu2+, Leu3a+, Leu7+, Leu10+, ratio helper/ suppressor, LeuM3 +. We compared, using the ANOVA test, the values obtained during a phase of headache crisis versus those obtained out of crisis. A significant increase in lymphocyte subset Leu7+ (20.9±2.5 vs. 13.8±1.1, p<0.05) and in monocyte subset LeuM3 + (26.3 ± 1.4 vs. 20.8 ± 1.2, p<0.05) was observed during the phase of crisis.