An initial evaluation of hypokalemia turned out distal renal tubular acidosis secondary to parathyroid adenoma.

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) usually presents with hypercalcemia related symptoms and signs. Kidneys play an important role in calcium homeostasis. PHPT has been reported to be associated with hyperchloremia, defective urinary acidification, and renal tubular acidosis (RTA).

Is NESTROFT sufficient for mass screening for beta-thalassaemia trait?

Objectives: Prevention of beta-thalassaemia trait will, for the foreseeable future, hinge on effective screening strategies. Routine use of haematological data from automated cell counters may complement the results of the Naked Eye Single Tube Red cell Osmotic Fragility Test (NESTROFT), especially because of the high cost of a false-negative error. Our objective was to assess the potential additive value of routine haematological data in screening for beta-thalassaemia trait.

Bias-corrected diagnostic performance of the naked-eye single-tube red-cell osmotic fragility test (NESTROFT): an effective screening tool for beta-thalassemia.

It is being increasingly recognized that a majority of the countries in the thalassemia-belt need a cost-effective screening program as the first step towards control of thalassemia. Although the naked eye single tube red cell osmotic fragility test (NESTROFT) has been considered to be a very effective screening tool for beta-thalassemia trait, assessment of its diagnostic performance has been affected with the reference test- and verification-bias. Here, we set out to provide estimates of sensitivity and specificity of NESTROFT corrected for these potential biases.

Erythrophagocytosis in sickle cell anemia: statistical evidence for a biological phenomenon.

The precise role of erythrophagocytosis in sickle cell disease is not known. Using hematological data from three studies and 791 subjects comprising of eight epidemiological groups, we found a strong statistical support for the hypothesis that erythrophagocytosis is increased in sickle cell trait, that neutrophils and lymphocytes are the most likely cells involved in erythrophagocytosis in these subjects and that increased erythrophagocytosis may for a mechanistic explanation for an increased risk of vaso-occlusive crisis in sickle cell trait. Statistically, erythrophagocytosis was not increased in subjects with homozygous sickle cell disease.