Cytotoxic Antibodies to Cultured Human Lymphoid Cells in Polytransfused Thrombocytopenic Patients: Association with Reduced Survival of Allogeneic Transfused Platelets

Abstract

Four out of 8 thrombocytopenic patients without detectable cytotoxic antibodies to human peripheral lymphocytes contained cytotoxic antibodies to cultured human lymphoid cells. The presence of such antibodies was associated with reduced survival of infused allogeneic platelets in these patients. The antibodies reacted in a distinct fashion with a panel of cultured human lymphoid cells and are directed to B cell antigens. Cytotoxic antibodies to cultured human lymphoid cells did not react in vitro with platelets suggesting that the antibodies play no significant role in the accelerated destruction of infused allogeneic platelets, although their presence predicts it. Therefore, screening of sera with cultured human lymphoid cells appears to be a useful test in addition to those now used to select patients for transfusion of allogeneic platelets. Sera from polytransfused patients without cytotoxic antibodies to peripheral lymphocytes may be a useful source of antibodies to B cell antigens.