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Specificity and Possible Origin of Anti‐N Antibodies Developed by Patients Undergoing Chronic Haemodialysis
Author(s) -
Boettcher B.,
Nanra R. S.,
Roberts T. K.,
Mallan M.,
Watterson C. A.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
vox sanguinis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.68
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1423-0410
pISSN - 0042-9007
DOI - 10.1111/j.1423-0410.1976.tb04455.x
Subject(s) - formaldehyde , antibody , neuraminidase , antigen , dialysis , medicine , chemistry , immunology , biochemistry , virus
Abstract. Studies were performed on two anti‐N sera from patients who had formed anti‐N antibodies during their period of haemodialysis. No specific inhibition of these antibodies was obtained by extracts prepared from a new and a used dialysis unit, and it was concluded that there was no evidence of a compound in the units which would stimulate production of the anti‐N. The specificity of the anti‐N's was shown to be against a precursor of MN antigens, since all activity in the sera could be removed by neuraminidase‐treated M cells, which expressed MN precursor. Since the anti‐N's would react with untreated N cells only at 4 OC, but with formaldehyde‐treated cells at 4, 25 and 37 °C, it was concluded that the specificity of the anti‐N's was directed against an antigen developed by red cells after formaldehyde treatment. It is proposed that the production of the anti‐N antibodies is stimulated by formaldehyde‐treated red cells passing into the patient during re‐use of a dialysis unit sterilized with formaldehyde.