Laboratory investigations
Extended lymphocyte immunophenotyping: CD3+CD4+, CD4+CD45RA+CCR7+
(naїve), CD4+CD45RA-CCR7- (effector memory), CD4+CD45RA-CCR7+ (central
memory), CD3+CD8+, CD8+CD45RA+CCR7+ (naїve), CD8+CD45RA-CCR7-
(effector memory), CD8+CD45RA-CCR7+ (central memory) and
CD4+CD127-CCR7+CD25++ (regulatory) T-cells (T-reg), CD19+ (PAN-B),
CD19+IgD+CD27+ (memory), CD19+IgD-CD27+ (switched memory),
CD19+IgM++CD38++ (transitional) and CD19+CD21+lCD38- (CD21low)
B-cells, CD19+IgM-+CD38++ (plasmablasts) through multiparametric flow
cytometry;
Immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA, IgM) through turbidimetric method.
Immunophenotypical data were age-referenced and gathered at least 6
months after the end of rituximab and mycophenolate mofetile (MMF), and
at least 4 months after the end of steroid therapy, except for three
patients whose evaluation was executed one day after stopping and/or
during a cycle of steroids. Immunoglobulin levels were detected at least
6 months after the end of rituximab and MMF, and at least 2 months after
the end of IVIG and steroid therapy, except for two subjects, whose
measurement was made respectively during cyclic subcutaneous IgG
replacement and MMF therapy.