Laboratory workflow for optimizing leukocyte count and differential in synovial fluids on Sysmex XN-1000.

Introduction: Falsely elevated synovial white blood cell (WBC) counts using automated hematology analyzers have been reported particularly in the setting of joint arthroplasty. We evaluated the implementation of a laboratory workflow based on Sysmex XN-1000-automated cell counting and scattergram interpretation.

Methods: WBC and differential were measured for 76 synovial fluid samples (29 native joints and 47 with joint arthroplasties) with Sysmex XN-1000 and manual methods.

Emicizumab for acquired haemophilia A: A case series.

Background: Emicizumab is approved to prevent bleeding in patients with congenital haemophilia A with or without inhibitors. However, no randomized trials addressed the efficacy of emicizumab in acquired haemophilia A (AHA).

Aims: To report the clinical and biochemical response of emicizumab in AHA.

Ribosome dysfunction underlies SLFN14-related thrombocytopenia.

Pathogenic missense variants in SLFN14, which encode an RNA endoribonuclease protein that regulates ribosomal RNA (rRNA) degradation, are known to cause inherited thrombocytopenia (TP) with impaired platelet aggregation and adenosine triphosphate secretion. Despite mild laboratory defects, the patients displayed an obvious bleeding phenotype. However, the function of SLFN14 in megakaryocyte (MK) and platelet biology remains unknown.

Clinical application of multigene panel testing for bleeding, thrombotic, and platelet disorders: a 3-year Belgian experience.

Background: The international study ThromboGenomics has evaluated the diagnostic rate using a targeted multigene panel test for the screening of inherited bleeding, thrombotic and platelet disorders.

Objectives: We retrospectively analyzed the results of the implementation of genetic testing for inherited bleeding, thrombotic and platelet disorders in Belgian clinical practice and evaluated possible reclassification of reported variants.

Patients/methods: We implemented a Thrombosis-Hemostasis multigene panel test using whole exome sequencing to diagnose 487 patients recruited by 27 different Belgian hospitals with the implementation of stringent laboratory accreditation standards and by studying up to 100 diagnostic-grade genes.

HIV protease inhibitors Nelfinavir and Lopinavir/Ritonavir markedly improve lung pathology in SARS-CoV-2-infected Syrian hamsters despite lack of an antiviral effect.

Nelfinavir is an HIV protease inhibitor that has been widely prescribed as a component of highly active antiretroviral therapy, and has been reported to exert in vitro antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. We here assessed the effect of Nelfinavir in a SARS-CoV-2 infection model in hamsters. Despite the fact that Nelfinavir, [50 mg/kg twice daily (BID) for four consecutive days], did not reduce viral RNA load and infectious virus titres in the lung of infected animals, treatment resulted in a substantial improvement of SARS-CoV-2-induced lung pathology.

Venous Thromboembolism in Patients Discharged after COVID-19 Hospitalization.

Background:  Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent complication of COVID-19, so that the importance of adequate in-hospital thromboprophylaxis in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 is well established. However, the incidence of VTE after discharge and whether postdischarge thromboprophylaxis is beneficial and safe are unclear. In this prospective observational single-center study, we report the incidence of VTE 6 weeks after hospitalization and the use of postdischarge thromboprophylaxis.

Malignant invasion of the cerebrospinal fluid in adult and paediatric patients with haematological and solid malignancies: a monocentric retrospective study.

Objectives: In this study, we describe the clinical presentation, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) characteristics and outcome of children and adults with leptomeningeal invasion due to haematological and solid malignancies.

Methods: Routine CSF samples analyzed from 2008 to 2018 at our institution were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of malignant cells based on cytomorphological analysis.

Results: Leptomeningeal invasion was identified in 212 patients: 45 children versus 167 adults, and 92 haematological versus 120 solid malignancies.

Optimization of the detection of inhibitory autoantibodies against the VWF-cleaving protease ADAMTS13 with an automated chemiluminescent ADAMTS13 activity immunoassay.

Introduction: Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is a rare disease associated with the production of autoantibodies against the VWF-cleaving protease ADAMTS13. The detection of these antibodies is made difficult by the instability of ADAMTS13 in citrated plasma and the time-consuming ADAMTS13 assays. The aim of our study was to evaluate the optimal conditions for detecting anti-ADAMTS13 inhibitory antibodies with the novel automated chemiluminescent immunoassay HemosIL AcuStar ADAMTS13 Activity assay.

The integration of Sysmex XN-9100' WPC channel reflex testing in the detection of reactive versus malignant blood samples.

Introduction: Sysmex XN-9100 (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan) system has an optional White Progenitor Cell (WPC) channel. While the White Differentiation (WDF) channel reports a combined flag for blasts/abnormal lymphocytes, WPC channel specifies flagging into a separate flag for each cell type or removes the flag entirely. Aim of this study was to evaluate the added value of this WPC channel in the detection of malignant samples.