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.