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Screening of Human Sera for Useful Antibodies     27 January 2004

From Dr Maggie Kalev, Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, The University of Auckland.

The University of Auckland currently conducts research that aims to find in patients with certain malignant and autoimmune disorders antibodies that could be medically useful. This includes investigating patients with systemic lupus. The project is called Screening of Human Sera for Useful Antibodies.

Why we test patients with lupus?

Our aim is to look for antibodies that could help understand or treat brain injury or a low platelet count that sometimes complicate systemic lupus.

Platelet count is measured during the Full Blood Count testing. Reduced level of platelets manifests as bruising and bleeding.

Symptoms of brain injury include fits, confusion, paralysis, coma, problems with vision, difficulties with learning and memory, major mood swings, depression and psychosis.

These are important complications but currently it is impossible to predict who is at risk. Also, in patients who are affected, there is no reliable testing to monitor response to treatment or to estimate a probability of recurrence. Our research has been designed to address these difficulties.

We look for lupus associated antibodies that react with brain cells and platelets. We will then explore if these antibodies could be useful for lupus care.

Lupus patients with:

• past or present symptoms of brain injury, as described above
• low platelet count, measured less than 100 x 10 9 /L in the Full Blood Count
• other active symptoms of disease

are included in this research.

We aim to test the blood when abnormal symptoms are still present.

For the purpose of this research, we ask patients for a 10 ml blood sample. This sample can be collected at all main hospitals and hospital clinics in Auckland.

Participation is entirely voluntary (patient's choice). The testing process does not cause any side effects and does not affect patient's treatment. Blood is not sent overseas or used for genetic testing. All research procedures are performed by an experienced team at The University of Auckland.

Queries

If you have any questions about this research, or if you would like to participate, please contact the Principal Investigator, Dr Maggie Kalev.

Address:
Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology
The University of Auckland,
Private Bag 92019,
Auckland.

Telephone: (09) 373 7599 ext. 84484 or mobile: 025 2076629.
Email: m.kalev@auckland.ac.nz

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