A Serum Antigen (Australia Antigen) in Down's Syndrome, Leukemia, and Hepatitis

doi:10.1059/0003-4819-66-5-924

A Serum Antigen (Australia Antigen) in Down's Syndrome, Leukemia, and Hepatitis

BARUCH S. BLUMBERG, M.D., D.PHIL., F.A.C.P.;
BETTY JANE S. GERSTLEY, M.D.;
DAVID A. HUNGERFORD, PH.D.;
W. THOMAS LONDON, M.D.; and
ALTON I. SUTNICK, M.D., F.A.C.P.

Requests for reprints should be addressed to Baruch S. Blumberg, M.D., The Institute for Cancer Research,
7701 Burholme Ave., Fox Chase, Philadelphia, Pa. 19111
.

Excerpt

We have previously reported the presence of an isoantigen of human sera, rare or absent in normal U. S. and northern European populations but relatively common in patients with leukemia (1, 2). The "new" isoantigen has been called "Australia antigen" because it was first found in the serum of an Australian aborigine. It appears to be different from the low-density lipoprotein isoantigen system first described in our laboratory (3-5). Hemophilia patients and others who have received multiple transfusions may develop precipitating isoantibodies against Australia antigen. These precipitating isoantibodies react with a protein in the blood of some normal and some

Acknowledgments

This study was made possible as a result of the enthusiastic support and encouragement of Mr. F. W. Russell, Superintendent, and Dr. J. D. Nelson, Medical Director, of the State Colony at New Lisbon, New Lisbon, N. J. We are also indebted to the residents of the colony who participated in this study and to their parents, who have shown a continuing interest in the progress of our work.

Many of the valuable sera of patients used in this work were presented to us by physicians from the Philadelphia area and elsewhere to whom we are grateful. These include Drs. Erlandson, Erslev, Freireich, Frost, Joseph, Lawrence, Lee, McElfresh, Naiman, Osgood, Ultman, Whereat, Winchell, Woldow, and Wolman. We are particularly indebted to Dr. James E. Prier, Director, Division of Laboratories, Pennsylvania Department of Health, for supplying serum specimens from patients suspected of having viral hepatitis.

Summario in Interlingua

Antigeno Australia, trovate in patientes con leucemia (particularmente in casos de acute leucemia granulocytic) ha essite incontrate con un alte frequentia in patientes con syndrome de Down e hepatitis virusal. Patientes con syndrome de Down e antigeno Australia ha, al media, un plus alte nivello de vitamina B₁₂ que patientes sin iste tracto. Es commentate plure hypotheses presentate pro explicar le mentionate associationes.

Article and Author Information

From the Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase, Philadelphia, Pa.
This study was supported by research grants CA-06551, CA-08069, and FR-05539, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.
- Received November 2, 1966.
- Accepted January 24, 1967.