The time course of the TCR BV repertoire in selected patients with PNH.

(A) Patients MSK42 and MSK28 displayed skewing in several TCR BV families that remained unchanged over a period of 9 and 19 months, respectively. (B) Patient MSK11 received ATG in April 1995 because of worsening cytopenias. CDR3 profile analysis on blood sample taken just before the commencement of the treatment revealed skewing in families TCR BV7 and BV9. The patient responded to ATG with remarkable improvement of the hematologic parameters and CDR3 profile analysis on blood sample 2.5 years later showed diverse repertoire profiles in both families BV7 and BV9. Patient MSK35 received ALG in February 1998 because of severe hemolytic anemia. After a transient response, 6 months later the hematologic parameters were as before the commencement of the treatment. CDR3 size analysis performed on samples drawn before the initiation of treatment and 6 months later showed identical skewing patterns in TCR families BV15 and BV16.