BMC Hematology

Background: An individual with visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) commonly present with anemia and one of the VL treatment center in northwest Ethiopia has been recommended iron-folic acid supplementation to these patients. But there is no documented evidence whether iron-folic acid supplementation improves the hematological profile of patients. Therefore, the study aimed to assess change in hemoglobin (Hb) and its determinant factors among VL patients with and without iron-folic acid supplementation in northwest Ethiopia...

Background: Idiopathic (immune) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an acquired disorder characterized by autoantibodies against platelet membrane antigens. Several studies found an association between Helicobacter Pylori infection and the incidence of ITP. So far, It is still unclear whether H. pylori eradication will increase platelet counts in adult ITP patients. We conduct this study to investigate platelet recovery in ITP patients after H. pylori eradication. Methods: This is a prospective study...

Background: Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, with high risk of complications requiring emergency care. There is limited information about presentation of patients with SCA to hospitals for emergency care. We describe the clinical presentation, resource utilization, and outcomes of SCA patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of consecutive patients with SCA presenting to ED between December 2014 and July 2015...

Background: Anemia in pregnancy may not only be associated with maternal morbidity and mortality but can also be detrimental to the fetus. A definitive diagnosis of anemia is a pre-requisite to unravelling possible cause(s), to allow appropriate treatment intervention. It is hypothesised that measured hemoglobin (HGB), complemented by biochemical and other hematological parameters would enhance anemia diagnosis. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among 400 pregnant women comprising 253 anemic and 147 non-anemic pregnant women, attending an antenatal clinic at Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, Ghana...

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) accounts for 5% of mortality in African children aged < 5 years. Improving the care management and quality of life of patients with SCD requires a reliable diagnosis in resource-limited settings. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of the rapid Sickle SCAN® point-of-care (POC) test for SCD used in field conditions in two West-African countries. Methods: We conducted a case-control study in Bamako (Mali) and Lomé (Togo)...

Background: The use of unscreened blood exposes the patient to many transfusion transmitted infections including Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and syphilis, among others. Thus, blood transfusion demands for meticulous pre-transfusion testing and screening. Trends of transfusion transmitted infections are important to take appropriate measures on blood bank services. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess seroprevalence and trends of transfusion transmitted infections at Harar blood bank in Harari regional state, Eastern Ethiopia from 2008 to 2015...

Background: Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) is characterized by high levels of oxidative stress markers and low levels of antioxidant capacity. Antioxidant defence mechanisms against the harmful effects of ROS requires cellular and extracellular enzymes. These enzymes requires micronutrient for complete activity. Information on micronutrients such as manganese, cobalt and copper in SCA population was poorly documented in the literature. Methods: Plasma copper, manganese, cobalt and albumin concentrations determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry were compared between two groups of children: 76 with SCA (Hb-SS) and 76 without SCA (controls)...

Background: Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a life-threatening emergency disorder, caused by an abrupt release of intracellular metabolites after tumor cell death. It is characterized by a series of metabolic manifestations, especially hyperuricemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate and characterize the incidence of tumor lysis syndrome among pediatric oncology patients before and after treatment. Methods: Hospital based prospective cohort study was conducted for 6 months on 61 newly diagnosed pediatric oncology patients...

Background: Chromosomal abnormalities are diagnostic and prognostic key factors in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, as they play a central role for risk stratification algorithms. High hyperdiploidy (HH), a rare cytogenetic abnormality seen commonly in elder male AML patients, is normally categorized under AML with complex karyotype (CK). Accordingly, patients with HH generally are associated with low remission rates and a short overall survival. Case presentation: Here we report a case of 21-year-old female, diagnosed with a de novo AML-M1 according to WHO classification and a CK at diagnosis...

Background: Dengue infection patients are presented with acute febrile illness. Clinical presentations may mimic other infections. The serology for definite diagnosis is costly and inaccessible in many hospitals. We sought to identify the clinical features and hematologic parameters from a complete blood count (CBC) which distinguish dengue infection from other causes. Methods: This was a retrospective single center study from Chiang Mai University Hospital. All patients who presented with acute fever between September 2013 and July 2015 were included...

Background: In patients presenting with peripheral lymphadenopathy, it is critical to effectively identify those with underlying cancer who require urgent specialist care. Methods: We analyzed a large dataset of 1000 consecutive patients with unexplained lymphadenopathy referred between 2001 and 2009 to the Royal Marsden Hospital (RMH) rapid access lymph node diagnostic clinic (LNDC). Results: Cancer was diagnosed in 14% of patients. Factors predictive for malignant disease were male sex, age, supraclavicular and multiple site involvement...

Background: The acquired inhibitors of coagulation have been observed in very rare cases of monoclonal gammopathies. We report a very rare case of anti-factor XI antibodies in patient with plasma cell leukemia (PCL). Case presentation: This is a 59-year-old male patient without pathological history, admitted to the nephrology department for management of renal insufficiency and anemia syndrome. The history and physical examination revealed stigmata of hemorrhagic syndrome including hemothorax and hemoptysis...

Background: Deficiency in coagulation factor VIII encoded by F8 results in the X-linked recessive bleeding disorder haemophilia A (HEMA). Here we describe the identification of a novel variant in the factor VIII gene, F8 , in an adult male patient with severe haemophilia A. Case presentation: The patient was diagnosed in early childhood and subsequently co-infected with Hepatitis C and HIV acquired during early blood transfusion for haemophilia in the 1980ies. The identified F8 deletion, c...

Background: An insight into the utilization pattern helps in future planning of blood drive. This study was conducted to describe the demographic characteristics of the transfusion recipients and pattern of blood and blood product utilization in Nigeria. Methods: Blood bank registers of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) Calabar were analysed for a 12 month period. Number of blood units requested, number of units issued, Cross-match to transfusion ratio (C/T), age, gender, blood group, blood components received, patients ward and clinical diagnosis were computed...

Background: In pregnancy, hematological changes occur in order to meet the demands of the developing fetus and placenta, with major alterations in blood volume. Abnormal hematological profile affects pregnancy and its outcome. This study aimed to assess hematological profiles of pregnant women at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Method: This cross sectional study was conducted among 284 consecutive pregnant women at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College...

Background: Anemia affects a significant part of the population in nearly every country in the globe. Iron requirements are greatest at ages 6-23 months when growth is extremely rapid and critically essential in critical times of life. Even though infants and toddlers are highly at risk, they are not considered as separate populations in the estimation of anemia. Despite this, the prevalence of anemia among under 24 months of age is still at its highest point of severity to be a public health problem in Ethiopia...

Background: Evidence-based guidelines for sickle cell disease (SCD) health maintenance and management have been developed for primary health care providers, but not for individuals with SCD. To improve the quality of care delivered to individuals with SCD and their caregivers, the main purposes of this study were to: (1) understand the desire for patient-centered guidelines among the SCD community; and (2) adapt guideline material to be patient-centered using community-engagement strategies involving health care providers, community -based organizations, and individuals with the disease...

Background: In 1962 Victor Herbert developed megaloblastic anaemia four months after commencing a severely folate-deficient diet whereas, in his self-experiment 50 years later, this author took 19 months to fully deplete his liver folate store. This author proposed that his own larger initial liver folate store, due to his vegetarian diet and consumption of fortified foods, was the cause of the time difference. Main text: This author now proposes that Herbert was also likely to have been deficient in vitamin C, thus shortening the time taken to develop folate deficiency...

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a very rampant metabolic disorder, particularly type II. It has many complications such as the septic foot. Diabetic septic foot (DSF) patients are at high risk for coagulation abnormalities as well as surgical hazards. Owing to the potential sequelae of coagulation and vascular abnormalities, this work aimed at studying the hemostatic state and platelet indices in diabetes type II patients with septic foot. Methods: A case-control study was conducted during the period from July to September 2017 at Dr...

Blood transfusions are often essential for treatment of severe anaemia and pregnancy complications. The unavailability of blood is a medical concern, especially in developing countries. New sources of red blood cells (RBC) are under investigation. Several studies have attempted to produce functional RBC from CD34+ haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) isolated from peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood, from embryonic stem cells (ESC) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). A recent article published in Nature Communications describes a novel model for generating RBC from a stable erythroid cell line obtained from bone marrow CD34+ haematopoietic stem cells (HSC)...