Interpreting tests for iron deficiency among adults in a high HIV prevalence African setting: routine tests may lead to misdiagnosis.

We evaluated peripheral blood tests to diagnose iron deficiency on medical wards in Blantyre, Malawi, where infection and HIV are prevalent. We compared full blood count, ferritin and serum transferrin receptor (TfR) levels with an estimation of iron in bone marrow aspirates. Of consecutive adults admitted with severe anaemia (haemoglobin <7 g/dl), 81 had satisfactory bone marrow aspirates.

Treatable factors associated with severe anaemia in adults admitted to medical wards in Blantyre, Malawi, an area of high HIV seroprevalence.

Severe anaemia is a common presentation in non-pregnant adults admitted to hospital in southern Africa. Standard syndromic treatment based on data from the pre-HIV era is for iron deficiency, worms and malaria. We prospectively investigated 105 adults admitted consecutively to medical wards with haemoglobin < 7 g/dl.

Characterization of first trimester fetal erythroblasts for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.

Isolating fetal erythroblasts from first trimester maternal blood offers a promising non-invasive alternative for prenatal diagnosis. The aim of this study was to characterize the biological properties of first trimester primitive erythroblasts to facilitate their enrichment from first trimester maternal blood. Primitive erythroblasts were the predominant cell type until 12 weeks gestation, after which time their numbers declined steeply; 100% were epsilon-globin-positive versus <0.

RBC T activation and hemolysis in a neonatal intensive care population: implications for transfusion practice.

Background: Reports of transfusion-associated hemolysis in infants with T-activated RBCs have led to the suggestion that infants should be screened and provided with low-titer anti-T blood components. T-activated RBCs react with the lectins Arachis hypogea and Glycine soja; variants of T (Th and Tx) and Tk also react with A. hypogea, but not G.

Expandability of haemopoietic progenitors in first trimester fetal and maternal blood: implications for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.

Objectives: Selective amplification of rare fetal cells in maternal blood is a potential strategy for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis. We assessed the proliferative potential of first trimester fetal progenitors compared to maternal ones.

Methods: Fetal and maternal haemopoietic progenitors were cultured separately and in two model mixtures: (i) co-cultures of male fetal nucleated cells mixed with maternal nucleated cells and (ii) co-cultures of malefetal CD34+ cells with maternal CD34+ cells.

Serial aggressive platelet transfusion for fetal alloimmune thrombocytopenia: platelet dynamics and perinatal outcome.

Objectives: Our purpose was to describe the fetal loss rate and platelet dynamics in fetal alloimmune thrombocytopenia managed by serial platelet transfusions.

Methods: Retrospective analysis over 10 years of consecutive pregnancies affected by fetal alloimmune thrombocytopenia requiring in utero platelet transfusions.

Results: There were 2 perinatal losses in 12 pregnancies managed by 84 platelet transfusions.